They’re not being straight about the police station

Contrary to the impression Labour Town Councillors have tried to give, it is clear, through documents already seen, that this was a serious proposal, included in plans for the Civic Centre and was on the table right up until the secret talks were exposed in the press.

Indeed, the paper on the Civic Centre discussed by Otley Town Council only last week said that the withdrawal of the police interest “has an impact on the capital funding of the project.”

Despite their denials, we also know that the Labour leader of the town council actually hoped the plan to close Otley Police Station and replace it with the NPT office would go ahead.

He himself told the press, whilst withholding the identity of the police, that “the last thing Otley wants is for this organisation to pull out.” Yet now he is giving the impression that he never wanted this to happen.

So having been found out, Labour town councillors are simply not being straight with people about this controversial proposal, that they should have been told about all along. As Otley’s MP, I was fulfilling my duty to local residents and taxpayers by telling them this proposal was on the table when others were seeking to keep it from them.

Local people have a democratic right to know about any significant changes to policing in their area. Councillors Eveleigh and Morris should now both admit the full facts of this proposal and also apologise for misleading people.

However, as experience shows that they are unlikely to do this, I am seeking to get the full information by using freedom of information legislation so local people can find out the whole picture that is currently still being withheld from them.

It is also clear that, rather than hoping the police will provide capital funding for the Civic Centre by closing Otley Police Station, they must instead pledge to spend the £400,000-plus currently earmarked for their shop, on the Civic Centre refurbishment – to give that a realistic chance of going ahead.

Greg Mulholland MP (Lib Dem, Leeds North West)

Releasing greenbelt land would be form of robbery

I fully support the petition to Bradford Council calling for Wharfedale’s greenbelt to be protected. This is particularly important given that much of this land was bequeathed to the then town council in order that these spaces be preserved for future generations. Should Bradford MDC choose to release this land for development this would be a form of robbery, not least because of the effect on wildlife, natural habitats and so on.

The reason given for greenbelt land being designated for housing development is that new homes are required to meet estimated population growth throughout Bradford and district. However, as yet I have never seen a full explanation as to where these figures come from.

Within the area as a whole it is accepted that new homes are required, but from what I hear in the national media it is affordable homes for first-time buyers that is the greatest need, rather than upmarket developments of the type often built in Wharfedale and other rural areas within Bradford MDC.

Many such developments are of too high a density, placing considerable strain on the infrastructure (roads, rail, schools, drainage etc). This is the case in areas like Menston and Ben Rhydding where existing infrastructure and utilities are already stretched to the limit.

Bradford should therefore take a leaf out of North Yorkshire’s book (eg: The Middleton Hospital development) and resist giving up the greenbelt, thus losing a valuable resource forever.

Richard P Fox, Ben Rhydding

An inspiring meeting about arrangements for the Tour

I was very impressed by the public meeting held last week at the Clarke-Foley Centre to inform us of the progress to date of arrangements for the week of the Tour de France in Ilkley.

The hall was packed. There were talks from several speakers and it was clear that a lot of thought and careful, thorough planning has gone into the preparation so far. It was a very inspiring evening. I look forward to the next update in the New Year.

Gillian Ryan, Ilkley

‘Housing price bubble’ has not been seen in Yorkshire

As Kris Hopkins MP has said in a recent written answer to the House of Commons, in his position as Minister for Housing at the DCLG, it is not possible to produce a list and to be able to analyse the number of new house building start-ups by a constituency.

So we are unable to easily consider whether the government-backed mortgage scheme for first-time buyers has been working in Keighley and Ilkley. Although anecdotal evidence would say that it has not worked.

The Bank of England Governor, Mark Carney, has recommended to the Chancellor, George Osborne, that the mortgage scheme be abandoned as a “housing price bubble” has been seen to emerging in London and south-east of Britain. A figure of a rise of 6.5 per cent has been mentioned. However, no such inflation has been observed in Yorkshire, to my own knowledge. I know that Mr Hopkins maintains that the Coalition government inherited the deepest peacetime deficit in history, together with the lowest number of new house building start-ups since the 1920s, but without a thorough and comprehensive analysis of new house building across the 12 regions of Britain, how can his department know what is happening across the nation as a whole? Surely we need at least 200,000 new homes built every year? I am sure that Mr Hopkins is sincere in his wish to improve the new home housing market.

But how does halting the state-backed mortgage scheme help in this objective? Is this not a ‘chicken and egg dilemma’? Without a demand for new homes by those who can afford them, won’t the new build programme stall for houses?

Paul Latham, PPC Keighley and Ilkley Constituency, UK Independence Party

Needs of sick must come before a council squabble

I thought I’d just reply to Councillor Carl Morris’s comments in last week’s letters pages regarding the withdrawal of my motion concerning the impact of a potential police move into the Civic Centre.

Many residents will be aware of my role as a nurse in a local A&E and unlike Dr (of Religion and Sociology) Morris I had to work at short notice on the night of the meeting.

As a manager in the NHS I am sure Leader of Council Councillor John Eveleigh would agree that the needs of the seriously ill and unwell, the elderly and infirm and the injured should take precedence over a ‘squabbling’ town council meeting.

Councillor Sandy Lay Otley & Yeadon (Leeds City Council) and Otley Town Councillor (Danefield Ward)

I knew the families who lived at the Manor House

In response to June Oldham’s request last week ‘Search for families in history of the Manor House.’ I lived at the Dairy on Church Street, now the Flying Duck, from 1946 until the early 60s. I knew the families at the Manor House, as a friend of mine, Trevor Cunnington, lived in the right-hand portion with his family.

The family lived there until the building was abandoned and they moved to Trafalgar Road. He was killed, unfortunately, in a motorbike accident. The centre of the block was occupied by a Mrs Marsh who died at the property. She was the last person to occupy this part. In the left-hand portion lived a family called Robinson who moved to Lister Street. I hope this helps in your search.

David Johnson, Westwood Drive, Ilkley

Town’s Christmas lights are truly spectacular sight

What a spectacular sight Ilkley Christmas lights are this year! Brooke Street and The Grove look particularly attractive, with not only the tasteful Christmas illuminations but also the lighting in the trees. The Christmas tree is sparkling splendidly and Mill Ghyll looks magical and must be the crowning glory! We would just like to thank all those responsible for this glorious display which will lift the spirits of anyone who lives here or visits Ilkley this Christmas.

Anne Waters and Adrian Gallagher, Ilkley Hall Park, Ilkley