Reader's Views
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Thoughts on cars, lorries, buses and pedestrians
Villagers will still use their cars
In these times of rising petrol costs and our constant reminders to reduce carbon emissions and being environmentally friendly etc, it is worth considering leaving the car at home and travelling by bus - as long as you don't live in Oxenhope.
While the 500 service has provided links from the village to our friends in Manchester, consideration has not been taken into account for members of the public whose hours of work are outside the rather old fashioned 9am to 5pm, eg, it is not possible to get to Manchester before 7.30am. As the 500 service was created to provide links to Manchester and Hebden Bridge train station, why are there no buses to coincide with the 5.59am, 6.42am and 7.28am?
In addition, if you are one of the many hundreds of people commuting to Leeds each day, you will be aware of the problems in locating a suitable service to get you direct to Oxenhope in the evening. The last 500 service ceases at 5.05pm when most workers are either still in the office or on the train. If you are one of the privileged few who finish work at 4pm and travel on the 4.26pm train from Leeds to Keighley, then at this point you will be frantically running up Cavendish Street, in a sweat, praying and hoping to catch the last and exceptionally busy bus.
The overhaul of the Tyrer Tours service and the introduction of the new 5.25pm Oxenhope Circular, is reminiscent of "Summer Holiday"! While the sights and sounds of the Worth Valley are pleasing to the eye, it does not quite compensate for the fact that it takes 50 minutes to get to Oxenhope and I am not quite sure that "Circular" is an appropriate term when it is anything but a round trip and one is subjected to travel through routes already adequately serviced by Keighley and District/Metro. Perhaps too simple a question but why not a direct bus from Keighley to Oxenhope? The public are also loathed to use the 663 service as again, it's a magical mystery tour with Oxenhope stuck on the end as an afterthought.
I am sure I speak for many, in that until villagers are provided with a more suitable service, they will continue to travel in the comfort of their own car, perhaps through gridlocked areas, road works and subjected to road rage, but happy in the knowledge that their journey has cost them only 20 minutes of their working day; and perhaps smiling, thinking of the poor souls on the magic bus sorry, the Oxenhope "Circular".
Councillor Paula Berry
Shaw Lane, Oxenhope
No right to parking appeal
I read with interest the letter from J M Mills regarding the car park on Cavendish Street controlled by Excel Parking. Two weeks ago I too had a run in with this company.
We had parked in a disabled parking bay, bought a pay and display ticket, unfortunately, we forgot to display our blue badge.
We were away for 11 minutes and when we returned the attendant was checking the tax disc to write us a ticket. Failing to display the blue badge I pointed out it clearly shows disabled and showed him the blue badge but to no avail.
My wife is a cancer sufferer, together with fibrosing alveolitis, a lung disease, which means she requires oxygen from time to time.
We carry a small cylinder which was getting rather low. That was the reason why we were only away for 11 minutes, so we had to leave without the ticket, the attendant said it would be forwarded on.
Two weeks later we receive a notice to owner of intent to issue court proceedings with a warrant being issued to the bailiffs. Also we don't have a right to appeal.
We wrote a letter to Excel explaining the circumstances and the reply back quoted the Blue Badge Scheme.
Nowhere in the blue book does it say you will be fined £100 for not displaying.
Being pensioners, £100 was and still is a lot of money.
Had we let them take us to court it would have cost an extra £80.
It goes without saying we won't be using that car park ever again; in fact, we are nervous about using any. Perhaps it's better to use the bus!
T R Bonsall
Rawdon Road, Haworth.
Grateful to super hospital
Re Airedale Hospital. Just out again after more life-saving surgery from this wonderful surgeon Mr Raj Kapadia, I am unable to thank this man and his wonderful team enough and stoma nurse Jean Ross and all the team of super nurses on Ward 14.
As a strict vegetarian all my life, I get the best choice from the super cooks down in the kitchens, they do a great job with all the food they cook. Once again thank you and keep up the good work.
And a great big thank you to all the cleaning team who keep this large hospital so clean and tidy and free of infection. And last but not least, the office staff who send out all the mail. I thank you all so much.
Michael Hudson
Elmore Terrace, Cross Hills
PO farewell and thanks
Could we, through your letters page, thank all our customers and friends for all the gifts and cards received on the final day of our post office being open.
We have enjoyed running Bradford Road Post Office for the past 15 years and will really miss being part of it.
Sharon and Glenn Ward
Bradford Road Post Office, Bradford Road,
Stockbridge
Fear of heavy lorries
Now that Skipton Properties is starting on the Grove Mills project, I would like to remind them Hainworth Wood Road has a 7.5 tonne limit and hope it reminds their drivers of this as we see the nine-tonne dumper truck using this road at times.
Due to volume of parked cars and children playing on bicycles on the road, we do not need heavy lorries short-cutting on here.
M Booth
Hainworth Wood Road, Keighley
Pedestrian unfriendly
I wonder if you and your readers were aware that Oxenhope must be entering the Most Pedestrian Unfriendly Village in Britain competition.
During a walk around the village this weekend, the pavements presented an obstacle course of parked cars and dog mess, with Best Lane, Hebden Bridge Road and the Millennium Path past St Mary's Church and on to Stones all proving particularly tricky. I feel sure the village is well on the way to winning the title.
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED
Safety challenge to PM
Again we read in the Keighley News about a savage attack by thugs against a couple in their home. Nothing new here, it's happening every day across the country.
Down in London Prime Minister Brown reflects on his battering in the elections and says that he will listen; putting to one side his Government's tax attacks on the low paid, the pensioners and the money tree motorists. Perhaps Ann Cryer MP should put this Keighley News on his desk.
She may even ask him just what he proposes to do about the rising rate of violent crime over 11 years of Labour rule.
If Mr Brown or Mrs Cryer still have no ideas, then I am sure that myself and many others can offer some useful suggestions if he really is listening.
Mr Brown, take bold action as a priority to make our homes, streets, towns and cities safe. It's our right and you should act.
R P Beale
Ridgemount Road, Riddlesden, Keighley.
7:28am Thursday 8th May 2008
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