Microchips and flowers are on reader's minds

8:09am Thursday 21st August 2008

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Thanks to kind man

I would, through your paper, like to thank the man who came to the help of my nine-year-old son, Joseph, when he fell off his bike on Aireworth Road, Stockbridge.

I think the man was in his car by M.Y. motors, and as soon as he saw Joseph come off his bike, he went to help him up, gave him some tissue for his cut knees and sprayed antiseptic on to them.

He offered to take him home, but by this time Joseph's older brother had arrived to escort him home. They both thanked the man as they left and Joseph arrived home, shaken up but not too badly hurt, and with some wonderful war wounds' to show his friends!

So, thank-you kind sir, whoever you were. You were certainly in the right place at the right time!

Wendy E Halloway Colenso Grove, Stockbridge

Double floral tribute

Just to say that especially on some of these more gloomy days we seem to have been having, every time I come through town, I've appreciated all the colour in the flowers. They brighten up the town and give it a feeling of being cared for. As a small business supporter of KIB, I think those involved in the outworking of the project should be commended.

Henry Pettinger Control Technology UK Ltd

Once again this year the gardeners have excelled themselves with the hanging baskets and containers on the barriers. They have been beautiful for ages and just get better and better.

They cheer us all up on these miserable rainy days! It's also wonderful that the containers haven't been damaged. I know a lot of people thought they would be, so it's good that people respect how lovely they are.

Once again, thank you for a lovely show.

Irene Mitchell Dale View Close, Long Lee

No shops in villages

Riddlesden Post Office - isn't it marvellous. We used to have a Post Office in Utley, but that closed. So then we used to take our mail to the Post Office in Stockbridge, but that closed.

If we want to post something, we have to go to either Riddlesden or Steeton depending upon which one we are passing. As your readers may be aware, Steeton Post Office is now located within a shop. Obviously the thinking behind the Post Office closures is that we no longer want to have any local amenities and much prefer to do our bit for the environment by driving to buy a stamp.

When I was growing up in Sutton in the 1970s, there must have been over 20 local shops and how many are there now? No more shoe shops, butchers, sweet shops or florists! All gone.

Much better for the people of Sutton to drive to Cross Hills to go to the Co-operative or into Keighley/Skipton. Yet when you visit the local supermarkets you see tired, sad faces looking up and down aisles for items they can't find, don't need and may well end up throwing away.

Much research has shown that instead of widening our choice, supermarkets narrow it as they aggressively chase the same consumers with the same items. So for all of you looking forward to the traffic chaos, battery farmed chickens and £4 jeans from the new supermarket on the block, just wonder why there are no shops in your village or your part of Keighley. With the price of fuel as it is you may regret it sooner rather than later.

Antony Silson

Skipton Road, Keighley

Carers need a break too

With many people returning from their annual summer holidays, and more still heading out for a last minute break, spare a thought for the UK's six million carers.

In a recent UK-wide survey of 2,000 carers, more than two thirds said that they hadn't been able to take at least one week of holiday or have free time when they were not caring for someone.

Added to that, three out of five carers in paid employment say they have used part of their annual leave simply to allow them to devote more time to their role as a carer.

Carers provide invaluable support taking care of the needs of partners, siblings, friends or relatives often for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Often, carers are isolated, with little social contact or support from others - so taking a break is essential.

In order for carers to have a well-earned rest they need to find interim replacement care and support for the person they look after. However, as the survey suggests, it can be hard to find.

The danger is that without a break' it is all too easy to become exhausted, physically unwell or depressed, which can in turn affect the level of care that they can provide.

Unbeknown to many, however, there are a range of services available which can help carers to have some time off, even if it is just for the day, or to plan a longer trip.

As a carer, you are also entitled to a carer's assessment, and your need to take a break should be looked at within this.

We would urge any local carers to find out more about the help available by visiting www.carersuk.org for a free copy of the Taking A Break factsheet or call CarersLine on 0808 808 7777 for more information.

We hope that by next summer, many more local carers will have got the break they so deserve.

Imelda Redmond

Chief Executive, Carers UK

Have pets microchipped

I should like to comment on two of your recent stories if I may.

The first concerns a boxer dog who, despite being microchipped, was re-homed. We were sorry to read this. His owner commented on the fact that microchipping was a waste of money and not to be recommended. Despite her situation we would contradict that statement. Since that article appeared we have been able to reunite two cats with their owners, thanks to the microchip they had implanted. Both cats had been missing for over six months and it is highly unlikely that they would have been reunited without the microchip. We urge your readers to have their pets microchipped.

The second story I wish to comment upon is the (hopefully temporary) closure of the Hedgehog Sanctuary. It is a sad fact that whenever anyone tries to help or offer sanctuary to any breed of animal, many members of the general public try to off-load all types of animals whether the sanctuary is able to cope with them or not.

Additionally, some members of the public seem unable to comprehend that the sanctuaries/rescue centres should be the last port of call, not the first, and that they should really take steps to re-home unwanted animals themselves. Many people use tremendous pressure to try and force us to take their cats, including the threat of having the cat killed. It is terribly heartbreaking and difficult to have to say no to people using this sort of emotional blackmail if we don't have the space.

What we would ask your readers to do is to make a contingency plan for their animals, even though they may not think they need one. Job loss, illness and death can happen to any of us and it is rare for us to find that previous thought has gone into the future of the pets should any of these occur. Surely all pet owners would rest more easily, safe in the knowledge that should something happen to them their pets would be cared for.

Finally, we ask your readers not to get pets on impulse - think long term! Of course few of us know what the future holds, but if you are in a position which may change in the next year or two, please delay getting a pet until you are more secure.

Sara Atkinson

Secretary, Haworth Animal Welfare (Cat Rescue), Lower Pierce Close, Cross Roads, Keighley.

Parking in medical centre

I went to Haworth on Saturday. We paid for extra time because we were aware of the clamper, but nothing has changed. Someone was being clamped as we left the car park.

We read a warning in a shop window about the clamper which listed two other car parks which are safer, but where are they, not many signs? And why not let people park in the new medical centre car park on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. It's time the people promoting tourism in Haworth did something. They must be fighting a losing battle.

A warning sign near that car park is badly needed.

Percy Sunderland, Grange Road, Kildwick