Bat survey must be made at Park Wood

I am writing about a planning application for a change of use of part of Park Wood to a lorry/car park.

I object most profoundly to this as it will affect a great deal of wildlife. I see a wide variety of animals and birds, including bats. One of them we affectionately call Baby Drac.

I have contacted the Bat Conservation Trust to ask how the law on bats must be applied to planning applications.

And these are a few quotations from the law of England — Under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010: (i) it is a criminal offence in England to deliberately disturb bats including (in particular) any disturbance which is likely to impair their ability to survive, to breed or reproduce, or to rear or to nurture their young (ii) any disturbance which is likely to impair their ability in the case of hibernating or migratory species to hibernate or migrate, or (iii) any disturbance which is likely to affect significantly the local distribution or abundance of the species to which they belong, damage or destroy a breeding site or nesting place of bats.

Bats and planning system: If permission is granted for a development to proceed on site that has the potential to support bats and no bat survey has been carried out to inform the decision, the local planning authority will have failed in their obligation and you have a right to challenge them.

It is a criminal offence to recklessly disturb a roosting or hibernating bat.

The letter also says the planning authority has a legal obligation to consider whether bats are likely to be affected by a proposed development. If a survey has not already been undertaken to determine the potential for bats on site and/or the presence of bats, the authority should request that the developers commission an appropriate survey.

The survey must be carried out by someone appointed by the Bat Conservation Trust.

Should anyone wish to make comments regarding this application (No 11/05545/FUL) please go online or write a letter to Bradford Planning Department.

Mrs Ann Langstroth

Quarry Street, Parkwood, Keighley

I want the lorries off Parkwood Street

Regarding Copperwaites and Park Wood, it appears to me and many others that some misinformed individuals are trying to hoodwink us with regard to the brownfield site adjacent to Copperwaites.

I have lived and worked in Keighley all my life and to my knowledge that area has never been part of the woodland itself. I can remember some years ago a community hut being on that site which fell into disrepair and was demolished.

If the rabble rousers looked closely at the area they will notice several streets of houses going up towards the wood with an unmade road at the top, called Kendall Street. The last street comprises three or four houses coming down from Kendall Street and it appears to me the development stopped with those houses.

Surely the three people with all the sabre rattling can research this site themselves without going off on one and getting their facts wrong.

I personally would prepare to see lorries and trailers awaiting attention parked off the main Parkwood Street, where they could cause an obstruction or at the worst an accident.

Councillor Brian Hudson

Planning Chairman, Keighley Town Council

Ngotiating 14 sets of tarffic lights on my journey

Once again there is a debate currently taking place as to how to improve the traffic flow through Keighley.

If all the money spent on consultancies over the years had been put to more direct use the problem would have been solved by now, with enough left over for a celebratory party.

However, would the powers-that-be please consider my observation of a journey from my home in Ingrow to the roundabout on Bradford Road, at Sandbeds, a trip which entailed negotiating fourteen sets of traffic lights – from road junctions to pedestrian crossings. If the solution to traffic flow problems is to stop the traffic every few yards then Keighley is an example which the world should copy.

KEITH SUNDERLAND

Exley Avenue, Keighley

'Shack' was vocalist with local bands

Regarding the sad, sudden passing away of former Worth Valley councillor Ian “Shack” Shackleton, can I first express my dismay at the unfortunate inclusion of a photograph depicting someone else in an otherwise excellent article.

I would like, if I may, to mention a little about his earlier years.

He was always a flamboyant character around Haworth (born and bred) and Keighley, and he was well known in the area as vocalist for various local groups in the Sixties and Seventies. I have been fortunate to share the stage with him in bands such as Smokey Ring Hat and, particularly, Kaboss.

RIP Shack old mate.

GES SMITH

Hermit Hole, Halifax Road. Keighley

Thanks from the marchers

I am writing to say that myself and the Keighley Muslim Association are very thankful that the West Yorkshire Police did a very great job in our event on February 5, to honour the prophet Mohammed’s birthday.

With their help we managed to handle traffic on all busy junctions and helped us to manage our event more effectively.

We also want to thank the Bradford Council because it let us undertake this event and special thanks to the plan manager, Mike Powell, because he guided us throughout the event.

As we had a large population that came to the event from various cities, we are very greatful that you helped us.

We also thank the youths who helped in the event and did a very great job.

Councillor Abid Hussain

Senior Vice President

Keep scrap merchants under tight scrutiny

“Tough action vow on metal raiders” — your story last week rightly reported the concerted efforts being made by police in cracking down on metal theft and also the dangers posed by such incidents.

This is also a matter the Conservative Group takes very seriously. At the last meeting of the full council in City Hall, on January 24, I reported that more than 30,000 incidents of metal theft have been reported nationally and this district has more than its fair share.

At the meeting the Conservative Group put forward an amendment to a motion on the debate and called for the council to examine if we were using our existing powers effectively enough.

Scrap metal is effectively a waste product and falls within the remit of our own environmental health teams.

We need to be visiting scrap merchants enough to let them know they are under scrutiny.

As an authority we need to make our presence felt in this industry by ensuring that by-products from metal recycling are being effectively disposed of, that residue oil and tyres from scrapped cars are disposed of properly and the same for refrigeration by-products.

Using council powers in this way will help clean up the industry.

Councillor Dorothy Clamp

Keighley EastWard, Ilkley Road, Riddlesden