We cannot afford to provide drinking water

While we try and keep the drinking fountain at the rear of White Wells on as often as possible, we do sometimes experience a lack of water in the building. This is remedied by turning off the drinking fountain, as was explained to Mr Bacon.

Mr Bacon states that he “is okay with the fountain not working per se” but feels it unreasonable not to provide him with a ‘mere’ glass of water instead.

Perhaps he should ask in some of the well-known tearooms and coffee shops in the town centre for a free glass of water, and see what they have to say. (And if he tries it in a pub, the response would probably be unprintable). Failing that, he could always bring some money out with him and actually support the cafe and buy something, or even bring his own water with him instead.

We do not have responsibility, or an obligation, to provide free water for Mr Bacon or anyone else. If he doesn’t like the fact that the drinking fountain has to be turned off sometimes, then perhaps he could contact Bradford Council about getting a better water system installed at White Wells, rather than writing to the local paper about the ‘unreasonableness’ of those of us trying hard to make a living.

The White Wells Cafe is our livelihood, and, contrary to popular belief, we do not receive allowances, benefits, funding, grants, handouts, rebates, sponsorship or subsidies. Neither are we employed by Bradford Council. We have to pay the Council rent so we can live here, and pay council tax, insurance, gas, electricity and telephone, before we even start buying stock – just like many other businesses. Maybe one day Mr Bacon will have such responsibilities of his own, and then he will appreciate just how hard it is to make a living in the real world.

When our bills and stock are free, then perhaps Mr Bacon will be able to come into our home and demand a drink of water free of charge, and have his wishes fulfilled.

Until then we will continue to welcome paying customers who appreciate the fact that they can buy a drink at White Wells and are prepared to support the cafe rather than take it for granted.

Mark Hunnebell and Joanne Everall, tenants and proprietors, White Wells, Ilkley Moor

Water is pure and refreshing on a hot day

The supply of spring water in the stone trough behind White Wells is one of my favourite features on Ilkley Moor. I have made the habit of visiting it whenever out walking or running. The water is both pure and refreshing especially on a hot day. For many years, it should be noted, the water ran freely.

Then (I’m not sure why) someone installed a tap there. Now it has been switched off altogether. I trust that decision will swiftly be reversed. I can see no justification for depriving people of the pleasures of such spring water. Furthermore, turning off the water supply can only deter visitors to White Wells as your previous correspondent has pointed out (Jack Bacon, letters, September 19).

John Hayes, Crossbeck Road, Ilkley

Zombie Run for charity should not be criticised

I am not a zombie fan, nor would I want to get dressed up as one on a Saturday night. This said, those who want to do so in the name of charity (one of the things we do so well in this country) should not be criticised in the local paper by those with little or no knowledge of the actual circumstances.

People such as Wes Kennedy. I suggest Mr Kennedy should think twice before making comment on such things again, and let’s hope next time Mr Kennedy is in need of a charitable act, he comes across the type of people that organised this event. Jonathan McGee Otley What we achieved will make difference to town As one of the organisers of the Zombie Run, Wes Kennedy, I can’t help but feel disappointed by your cynicism and lack of energy for a charity event which has so far raised over £1,000 for local charities and community projects. There was nothing inaccurate about the report, we did indeed have over 100 volunteers dressed as zombies at over 10 locations throughout Otley, which included Prince Henry’s field.

We were obviously granted full permission to use each location, including the school, who were more than happy for us to use the premises. I do not doubt that the people you saw near Farnley Lane were walking in an “orderly fashion” as this was near the end of a physically-difficult event.

We are extremely proud of everything we achieved and the response has been mostly positive, with many people already asking to help organise next year’s zombie run.

Mel and and I would like to thank everyone who took part and made the day successful and hope that all the people criticising us for what we achieved will reconsider their views when they see the difference the donations we made make to the town of Otley.

Tom Featherstone, Newall Avenue, Otley

Council reneged on last promise to fund centre

I read with sadness, but little surprise, your report on the refusal of Leeds City Council to provide accommodation for Otley Museum in the empty former UDC office complex on Boroughgate, Otley.

Readers will recall the premises also housing a ‘one stop shop’ for a considerable time until a surprise announcement was made by the Leeds Council (Labour) leader in January/February 2012.

Leeds Council had decided to close the ‘one stop shop’ on April 1, 2012. All staff and equipment would be moved out of that building and be installed within the town library, by April 1, 2012.

I don’t remember any explanations or reasoning for this move being discussed by Leeds spokespersons but recall much criticism from Otley Town Councillors, Lib Dem persuasion I believe.

Your newspaper article revealed the unadvertised intention by Leeds City Council to sell off the entire office block and old council chamber between Boroughgate and Courtyard Street to a commercial buyer.

‘Proceeds would be re-invested in Otley Civic Centre, should it eventually re-open,’ it said. What it didn’t say was what would happen to the proceeds as an alternative.

Otley residents would do well to remember these latest revelations emanate from the same Leeds City Labour Council who promised (over many months) to provide the £2.6million plus for the crucial refurbishment of our Civic Centre only to renege at the last moment.

Three and a half years on we still have no municipal hall and reduced to a small town council ‘core’ in the centre of town costing thousands per year, while the unusable and deteriorating Civic Centre remains empty, locked and with no forseeable future. Fortunately it is the property of Leeds City Council. Could this be saleable? We will have to wait and see.

John S Slater, Croft House Drive, Otley

Visit to area was political spin of the worst kind

I noted your article about Hilary Benn coming to Guiseley to demonstrate against development of green space around Ings Lane and I was compelled to write, as this was political ‘spin’ of the worst kind.

Residents were invited to the demonstration. However, no-one was told it was a Labour Party event or indeed an event to launch the campaign of David Bowe who is the Labour candidate for council next year or even that of Jamie Hanley who is the Labour Party candidate for Parliament in 2015.

If Hilary Benn was so concerned about preservation of green spaces, then maybe he should talk to people in his own constituency who are desperate for affordable housing and have highlighted that over 60,000 houses could be provided on brown field sites or by renovating empty homes again, all in his own constituency.

By looking at providing this housing Hilary Benn would certainly take the pressure away from places like Guiseley in terms of development but it appears that he and his Labour Party friends would prefer to shout and stamp their feet all for the sake of a little publicity. Maybe if they were honest with the people whose votes they want, we could start to trust them again.

D Williams, Guiseley

Thanks to all for helping to win a Silver Gilt award

Otley in Bloom is delighted to have received a Silver Gilt Rose in the 2013 Yorkshire in Bloom competition, a welcome reward for the efforts of our volunteers over the year.

We were not only judged on floral displays and clean-ups around the town (which many have appreciated), but also on involving the community to improve the local environment.

This would not have been possible without the help of others. We would like to offer our warmest thanks to all those who have helped us in this achievement: local businesses and individuals, Otley Town Council and Leeds City Council.

Mary Klemm, Secretary, Otley in Bloom

Small town like ours doesn’t need a manager

In reply to the letter last week from Parish Councillors Steve Butler and Mike Ridgway concerning the appointment of a Town Manager for the rather small but beautiful town of Ilkley.

They use as examples the surrounding towns that have made similar appointments, all of these towns considerably larger than Ilkley. You cannot make a comparison of Ilkley with a population of less than 14,000 to Keighley with a population of over 87,000.

We have to accept that Ilkley is a very small town, and we love it.

We do not even have an elected Town Council, like the towns that we have been compared to, and we adequately survive with a very effective Parish Council.

As respected former Councillor Barbara Cussons pointed out there are a number of voluntary organisations prepared to assist in any community activities without the interference of a town manager.

If you put your name forward as a Parish Councillor it has certain responsibilities, both to the electorate but to the town you as Councillors represent, yes the management of the town has to be one of those responsibilities.

Geoffrey A Maldwyn-Jones

One-way system will just increase the rat-running

I see that there are plans for a one-way system in Walkergate, Nelson Street and Charles Street in Otley. While on the face of it this is a good idea, what effect will it have?

Well for one it will just increase the already present problem of rat-running, mostly affected is Crow Lane and Side Copse. Whenever town gets “bunged up” i.e. the cycle race and Victorian night, all the traffic that refuses to wait or follow the signed diversion comes pouring down these roads. I should know, I’ve lived on one of them for the last 26 years.

It’s narrow to the extreme in some places and totally incapable of taking two-way traffic. There has been an “access only” order in place for as long as I have lived here, which because it is never enforced is totally ignored. Do you think that the new 20mph speed limit will have any effect either? If you do, you live on the planet Zarg. Just like Pool Road has a speeding problem so do we.

I have spoken to Councillors Campbell, Downes and Lay, but they just say it’s a complex issue and there are no easy answers. Well either a) leave well alone or b) block off Crow Lane at the junction with Wellcroft. And don’t let me hear that emergency services can’t get access, as neither a fire appliance nor an ambulance can get past now at the very narrow point at the aforementioned junction.

Dan Lebath, Side Copse, Otley