Communities must get power over high street

The government has proposed technical changes to the ‘Use Class Orders’ in planning law. This means that:

• Shops can become pay day lenders or fast food restaurants for up to two years without planning permission.
• Offices can become residential accommodation without planning permission for up to two years.
• Agricultural buildings can become dwellings for up to two years.

Future changes in the pipeline will abolish the current time limits and broaden the range of possible uses to which high street properties can be put.

All these proposed changes will make it more difficult for local communities to shape what is happening in their high streets.

The proposed changes will not tackle the saturation of certain types of uses such as betting shops, fast food shops and pay day loan companies.

That we have already seen in some places.

There is every possibility that under the government’s new rules property owners will terminate the current use of high street properties by charities and convert them into other uses that previously required planning permission.

Taking as an example the main shopping area in Guiseley – Otley Road.

There are currently four charity shops in this area (out of about 60 commercial properties.) Under the new rules if these were converted to betting shops or pay day lenders we could see a very rapid change in the nature of our main street with the local community powerless to halt these undesirable changes.

I want to see local communities given the power to promote sustainable and appropriate growth in our high streets and town centres.

Local Councils should have the power to stop the “clustering of similar uses in local premises”.

The idea of being able to turn a bank into a betting shop without the consent of the local community is ridiculous.

If you agree with me then please write to your local Member of Parliament asking them to tell Ministers that local councils should retain their powers to control future developments in their area and that the government should reverse its proposals for changes in the Use Class Orders

David Bowe, Labour’s local government candidate in Guiseley and Rawdon

Thanks for commitment to our literature festival

It’s the end of another wonderful and inspiring Ilkley Literature Festival. My thanks to all the organisers and volunteers who made every event I attended so brilliant.

Their commitment and enthusiasm shines through from ticket sales to stewarding – well done.

I was inspired by AL Kennedy’s talk early on, as she summed up what writing is by saying writing is ‘when I want to tell you something but I can’t be with you to tell you’.

The authors I have read and listened to over the last few weeks have communicated with such care, precision and passion that I think I have really understood their message and caught their enthusiasm. Roy Hattersley was an outstanding example, as he cantered through 500 years of Devonshire history without pause or notes.

Also, the fun, challenging and intimate atmosphere of the book club on Jane Austen’s ‘Persuasion’ was gently and cleverly guided by Prof Richard de Ritter.

My only disappointment was the talk by Prof Steven Jones, which was advertised as the Bible retold as Science.

Ilkley has several hundred enthusiastic and engaged Christians who boosted ticket sales to hear a robust re-evaluation of their sacred book, causing the event to be moved to a bigger venue.

However, the talk we heard hardly referred to the Bible, and whilst being an interesting introduction to the nature/nurture debate, there was a feeling of being mis-sold.

The Bible has much to say about nature and nurture, not least the way God intervenes in people’s lives, taking the most unlikely to become great leaders, and turning lives round, even today, so that whilst nature and nurture might lead to a destructive lifestyle, God’s saving power can create a worthwhile and positive life.

Prof Jones seemed to have not engaged with his audience (even mislocating us in Leeds several times) and not followed the brief put before him.

However, I am still full of praise and admiration for the Festival organisers themselves and would like to encourage them in their work for next year.

Ruth Jones, Sunset Drive, Ilkley

Well done to the Chelker turbines campaign group

I couldn’t be more pleased if I tried. Wind farms being torn down in my beloved Yorkshire.

Well done to the Parishioners Against the Chelker Turbines campaign group, not only for successfully fighting to get rid of the four turbines at Chelker Reservoir but for opposing two even bigger replacements.

I have always opposed wind turbines, which not only desecrate our beautiful land and seascapes but are inefficient and their immoral subsidies add to our ever-rising energy bills.

Good riddance to the Chelker four and may they be the just the first of many to be torn down.

Godfrey Bloom, MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire

How could electrification of line produce a return?

In The Gazette you report that Arthington village hopes to have a new railway station.

The comments from Harrogate Chamber of Commerce leave me absolutely astonished, these people (I nearly said ‘muppets’) believe that electrification of the line from Leeds to Harrogate would result in a doubling of the number of trains accompanied by a 20 per cent increase in passenger numbers.

How on earth could this produce a return on investment even with the present trains overcrowded?

Harry Moore, Leeds Road, Ilkley

My Remembrance Day thoughts put in verse

I wondered if you might be interested in the poem I wrote for Remembrance Day.

Never Forgotten

The heavens raged the thunder roared and lightning split the sky.

And down below in the sodden earth was death and the soldier’s cry.

The cannon roared, the clarion called, you could hear the eagle cry.

And the politicians safe at home whilst all our young men die.

And in a field in a foreign land a young girl’s picture in his hand.

A dead young man one of our best his heart now still within his chest.

So many lying dead and dying Blood and broken bodies lying.

And rain pours down from Godless sky on mothers’ sons too young to die.

Give me your hand mate came a voice I hear but I cannot see.

I know I’m shot to bloody hell what price for victory.

I’m here mi lad I’ll stay nearby I’ve lost my leg now I will die.

Well go together you and I and sail the winds where the eagles fly.

Tears from heaven fell to earth and the swollen rivers raged.

And swept along all in their path and laid the earth to waste.

In Eastern desert or Flanders field with only honour for a shield.

Some will live and some will die as back at home the tears they’ll cry.

A child now kicks in its mother’s womb and her only comfort in the room

Is a silver frame he’s caught in time, he’ll never age this love of mine

The cannon roared and the clarion called, you could hear the eagle cry

And the politicians safe at home whilst all our young men die

Elizabeth Brooke, Southview Terrace, Otley