So worried about what is happening to our buses

For example TLC has confirmed that they are also reviewing the Otley-Shipley-Bradford daytime route 653, which they say is losing £10,000 per year, though every time I have used this bus, it’s been pretty full. I understand Leeds-Bradford Airport is withdrawing its subsidy (no doubt anxious to maximise its parking fees) and consequently there will be changes and reductions to route 967. It will no longer be the ‘airport bus’. Further afield North Yorkshire County Council, in its efforts to save £171m over the next few years, is planning to replace the Grassington route 74 with a ‘Dial-a-ride’ service, and will cut or severely reduce routes to places like Ripon, Harrogate and York.

It is clear that these problems stem from the government’s attempts to make us all pay for the financial banking crisis and from the deregulation of buses. No longer are they regarded as a public service, but as a variety of commercial businesses, with each company competing and needing to make a profit. Just as we’ve seen with fuel providers and other utilities, and will undoubtedly happen with the Royal Mail, there is no holistic plan, whereby ‘profitable’ areas can be used to subsidise ‘unprofitable’ ones, regardless of need. Neither is there any serious attempt to imaginatively publicise routes, or encourage people out of cars and onto public transport. They just ‘go with the flow’ – and cut.

The Campaign for Better Transport reported that 41 per cent of local authorities made cuts in the financial year 2012/13; the total estimate for cuts in 2011/2012 was £36m and there’s undoubtedly much much more to come.

Bus services provide a lifeline for many – and not just older people. For those without easy access to a car, having accessible and affordable public transport is vital to leading an active and independent life. Like many pensioners, I value my bus pass. But there’s not much point in having one without a bus to get on.

Lynne Faulkes, Wharfe Court, Burley-in-Wharfedale

Its success shows how important the centre is

The left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing!

I read with incredulity that the Labour leader Ed Miliband is against the closure of Sure Start Centres when only last week we were told that the Labour-controlled Bradford Council is going to ‘consult’ on closing the Sure Start Burley and Menston Children’s Centre, which is in my ward.

We received a new building to house the centre only three years ago and we currently have 85 per cent of children under five registered.

Its success shows how important it is to local people. I spoke with Heather Norreys, the co-chairman of the advisory board at the centre, and she said she was very disappointed to hear that this valuable and well-used service may be lost to residents.

Local people want to have their say and a paper and e-petition has been registered on the Bradford Council website.

Bradford Council is planning to cut centres in what they say are affluent areas. Don’t all children in Bradford deserve the best start in life?

Coun Jackie Whiteley, Wharfedale Ward

Manor House is a great cultural asset to the town

Linda Hartley is right to open a debate about The Manor House in Ilkley. It is an extremely important building and a great cultural asset to our town.

The local history section with its Roman artefacts, together with evidence of the inhabitants of the premises up to the time Percy Dalton donated it to the town, are irreplaceable. Should we lose The Manor House as an accredited museum and gallery all of the contents will be taken back into Bradford. There is no other Museum in this area of Wharfedale.

How many of our school children have visited to explore our Roman history and to take part in role play? Brownies and Cubs visit when they are staying at the local centres at Curly Hill. Groups from Nell Bank also make use of the facilities.

I urge readers to look at the Friends of the Manor House website, and that of Bradford Museums and Galleries, to remind themselves of just how extensive and how varied are the activities taking place in the Manor House. Major exhibitions recently have been well visited. The Scout and Guide Centenaries (2006 and 2010 respectively) were followed by Ilkley Art Club, The Photographic Society and more recently 50 years of Friends of the Manor House and 40 years of Ilkley Literature Festival. Then there are the lectures and the concerts. The quality of these events is unsurpassed and would be a tremendous loss should they come to an end. Please remain alert and join the debate. Put forward imaginative and helpful ideas to convince Bradford that to shed responsibility for the Manor House is not the best way of squaring its budget problems.

Ann Peacock, Friend of The Manor House

I would love to trace war pictures I left with veteran

In the run-up to next year’s centenary of the outbreak of the First World War there are two photographs I would dearly like to trace. They are not just of family interest but of importance to the town and would be a notable addition to Otley Museum’s archives.

The photographs, framed and glazed, were taken by my grandfather J Hastings Duncan MP and signed by him. They depict my father, Hugh Duncan and his cousin Kenneth Duncan, leading columns of locally enlisted Gunners to Otley Station on their way to muster at Doncaster before embarkation to France. Forty-five years ago when chairman of Otley Council, I attended an Old Comrades meeting. There were many veterans present who had fought alongside my father and uncle. It was a moving occasion and I left the photographs behind with one of those veterans. I don’t want them back. It would be reward enough to learn they have survived.

Ronnie Duncan Weston, Otley

Shocking that law on child neglect is 80 years old

There have been lots of upsetting cases of child abuse and neglect in the news recently. Hearing these tragic stories has been heart-wrenching.

With this in mind, I was shocked to find out that the law on child neglect is 80 years old. Because it was written so long ago, it doesn’t include emotional neglect.

This type of abuse, such as on-going scapegoating or humiliation, is now known to leave children with mental scars that can last a lifetime.

I hope your readers will join me in supporting Action for Children’s campaign to update the law. By visiting actionforchildren.org.uk/changeneglectlaw they can find out more and ask their MP to join our campaign.

Thousands of people and organisations across the UK are already involved and together we’re increasing the pressure on Government to make sure we have laws in place that really protect children.

John Moore, Fagley Road, Bradford

Refreshing squeals of family laughter

Walking up to the allotment on a rather overcast and dull day, it was so refreshing to hear squeals of joy and laughter. As I got closer the source of all this laughter was the children of the McIlmoyle family who recently took on a plot at our site (pictured left). The children were having great fun jumping up and down, compressing the autumn leaves which had just been added to the leaf-mould enclosure. It was a joy to see. A lot more natural than a trampoline, and was equally as much fun. It brightened up what was an initially dull day.
Phil Gomersall, Secretary, Victory Garden Allotments, Leeds