Letters to the Editor

Macmillan Cancer Support would like to thank Keighley News readers for taking part in our World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on September 28.

Getting together with your family, friends or colleagues and enjoying cakes and a coffee was a very enjoyable way of helping us raise the money we need to reach more people affected by cancer.

The money raised will help Macmillan fund specialist nurses, new cancer centres and grants to support people living with cancer who have financial problems.

Thank you for making this our most successful coffee morning. If you’re on Twitter, please tell us about your event on our tweet map by visiting http:// coffee.macmillan.org.uk/Share/ tweetmap.aspx.

We appreciate your support in helping to support people affected by cancer. For information on how to pay in the money you’ve raised from your coffee morning, visit coffee.macmillan .org.uk/How/HowdoIpaymymoneyin.aspx.

The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning day is over, but it’s not too late to sign up and take part. Everyone who signs up will get a fundraising pack and lots of ideas on how to make their event a success, but whether you choose to have a coffee morning, a cocktail evening or a quiz event, it is up to you.

All we want is for people to do something they enjoy with people they want to spend time with while raising some money for Macmillan to help us be there for people with cancer when they need us most.

For more information on signing up, visit .macmillan.org.uk/ coffee, call 0845 6021246, e-mail coffee@macmillan.org.uk, or text COFFEE TO 88080.

We look forward to hearing from you.

SALLY BACKHOUSE, West Yorkshire fundraising intern, Macmillan Cancer Support

Create solutions, not just pass the blame

I was saddened as I read last week’s letters page to see that the MP, elected by some of the people in Keighley, used the term “habitual Labour mouthpieces” to describe a correspondent.

As Mr Hopkins could himself be described as a “habitual Tory apologist”, it is both insulting of him to denigrate the views of others and to use such language.

I do, however, take issue with his comments. As Mr Hopkins continues to blame immigration, the welfare budget and, as usual, the Labour Party, he omits to mention a few important facts.

Firstly, instead of being reduced, Government borrowing is on the increase. It was nearly £4 billion higher this year, so far, than last. This is mainly due to the number of recently-created unemployed claiming benefits, as they have been the victim of these misguided austerity measures. As local councils wonder which services to cut due to their own budgets being slashed, Mr Hopkins’s vision of local job creation and enterprise will be as much of a dream as the ‘Big Society’.

Giving councils a stake in the welfare system effectively means playing Russian roulette with who will lose which benefits and fall through the net. Mr Hopkins would be better off asking his party to clamp down on the companies and individuals avoiding tax, which, in the Attorney Generals Report of 2010, showed benefit fraud (because that is what Mr Hopkins is alluding to) accounts for £1 billion of public fraud. This compared to nearly £15 billion on tax avoidance.

Also, I would point out that it was an equal amount of taxpayers’ money that was spent on benefits, caused by a rise in housing benefits payments which are often to private landlords and almost always much higher than in the private sector.

Mr Hopkins would be better spending his time creating an economic policy which might create jobs, services and a future for young people instead of, still, blaming the Labour Party and dismantling the public sector and selling it to the highest bidder. The closure of Haworth Fire Station may possibly have something to do with a lack of funding? Mr Hopkins may be fiddling, while his constituency burns.

ANTONY SILSON, Skipton Road, Utley

Councillors speaking out to be applauded

Councillor Brian Hudson and I are not friends, however that he and another town councillor decided to speak to the press regarding issues of financial concern within the Keighley council deserved full support.

That it was not forthcoming is utterly contemptible. That two councillors faced down those who constructed rules, then convinced gullible members of KTC to neuter the freedom of speech and banning democracy in council, is in my view, dishonourable.

Those councillors who voted for banning Coun Hudson and forcing Coun Stack from vital council committees have proved to me they are not worthy of office, especially when they promised their constituents complete integrity.

Mr Hoddy, the recently-retired Keighley News editor, made a comment on this issue, stating “it will be an extremely sad day in the history of Keighley for democracy, freedom of speech and precept payers”. With respect, Mr Hoddy, that statement was grossly understated.

I admit to being terribly ashamed to have been instrumental and partly responsible for the formation of Keighley Town Council.

Others and I are now reduced to using the Freedom of Information Act to seek out even small details from this council, which refuses to tell me as a ratepayer what it is doing with my money.

I have sent my views on this matter to members of the Coalition Cabinet and others in authority demanding the so-called ‘Quality Status’ of this stifling council be rescinded.

Finally, as indicated, I applaud the two councillors for their actions in seeking to implement a ‘Freedom of Speech’ policy. To those others, who nauseatingly lacked courage to defend such an issue, shame on you all!

DAVID SAMUELS, Highcroft Gardens, Thwaites Brow

Disability challenges are closer to home

The Paralympics got everyone thinking about disability in a positive way, but many readers may not realise that families with disabled children face huge challenges in everyday life.

Many families have to fight complicated battles just to find an appropriate school or therapy for their disabled child and often the support can only be found far away from their home.

The impact on family life cannot be underestimated. Families can’t spend quality time together and may even miss occasions such as birthdays.

At Scope, we believe all families with disabled children should get the support they need through local services.

We are launching a campaign called ‘Keep us close’ to put pressure on the Government to make the changes that will stop families having to fight or travel long distances, but we need your help.

We’re asking the residents of Keighley to come into the Scope shop until October 21.

And while you’re in the shop, you never know, you may be able to pick up a bargain at the same time.

DENISE STOKER, Shop manager, Scope, Brunswick Arcade, Keighley

Give game a go as season gets under way

Monday was the official start of the pheasant shooting season, and there will be plenty of affordable, locally-sourced and tasty game meat available.

Game meat is healthy, sustainable and highly nutritious and has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. So why don’t you give game a go? Try a tasty pheasant casserole or ask your butcher about venison.

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), works year-round to encourage people to try game meat. Shoot providers spend £250 million a year on conservation and shooting is involved in the management of two thirds of the rural land area. Sales of game meat were expected to reach £84 million last year.

For more information, and some easy game recipes, visit basc.org.uk.

DEBBIE COLLINS, The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) Marford Mill, Rossett, Wrexham

Holmfirth TV show petition is reactivated

A petition to get the BBC to bring back a television favourite of the older generation, Last Of The Summer Wine, for another series has been reactivated and is gathering hits again.

To view and sign the petition the public should go to petition.co.uk/summerwine.

Members of the public without the internet please ask your local library if they can help.

FE SHARPE, Plymouth