A Letter to The Editor 2007 - Who are the IT idiots?

SIR - The situation Junior Doctors find themselves in reminds me of the King's New Clothes.   I am one of a fast depleting rarity – an apprentice trained craftsman.  Not a 'New' apprenticeship mind.  A seven year slog from bottom to top including Horticulture college.  For this reason I appreciate the hard work our Junior Doctors have put into their careers. When New Labour first mooted their MMC I saw the consequence of this delusion.   Folk around me said I didn't know what I was talking about.  They are strangely quiet while thousands of Junior Doctors find themselves in the lurch.  

Perhaps someone at The Telegraph would total the billions lost on IT by New Labour since 1997.  If possible work out how much it will cost to keep such equipment upto date.   N.K.S. Baker's (Letters March 5th) comment sums up much of my thoughts.  In the wrong hands IT is like a new suit for the King, in this case New Labour. Instead of listening to slick tongued IT people they should cut their cloth to fit. Doctors, Junior or otherwise, are more important than idiots who only understand one and zero.

Who plays Monopoly in Wharfedale?

Oh the joys of nestling by the fireside listening to the Ovaltinies on the wireless, playing board games with the little ones or reading a good book from the local library. Days pushed aside for supposed more modern lifestyles. Yet what do we read in a local publication? There is to be a board game called Bradford Monopoly and folk are requested to vote for their favourite places. Perhaps those who wrote the article or came up with the idea in Bradford should have spent time in their local library before it’s doors close for good. Saltaire is put forward along with Ilkley Moor but the one thing that joins the two together is forgotten. Again! Ilkley Spaw – White Wells.

Few realise were it not for one John Dacre, formerly cordwainer and tax collector to the King, plus the growth of the Spa ethos in Ilkley there would not have been a Saltaire. When Dacre moved from Bramhope to become an auctioneer in nearby Otley I doubt he would have thought who the move would, eventually, come to his door. A chap called Titus Salt. What Salt required was simple, a fast flowing river, a canal and one of those new fangled railway things, in Wharfedale. As we all know there is one of the fastest flowing rivers in the country and a railway. Alas no canal. Dacre set about looking for a suitable place and found one just over t’ill in Airedale. For his trouble Salt gave the princely sum of £400 towards the building of the Unitarian Church on The Grove – Christchurch.

Will folk eagerly toss their dice for the likes of Saltaire or will they give White Wells the long overdue recognition they rightly deserve. I move White Wells be given a place on the Bradford Monopoly board before Betty’s and the rest. While on about the foundation of Ilkley as we know it today can anyone explain why it still hasn’t been repainted? Perhaps if it were on the Blooming Trail it would be spick and span, shining like a new pin, for all to see instead of blending with the moor which would not have become famous but for taking the waters initially at White Wells.

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Ilkley Moor Management Plan 2003 - 2012

For the benefit of those who do not live in the area, or not have a copy of the Ilkley Moor Management Plan 2003 - 2012, would the Chair of Friends of Ilkley Moor expand on the following with regards to Ilkley Moor?

1. Page 8 Section 3.14.
2. Page 20 Sections 4.44 - 4.47.
3. Page 38 Sections 5.23 - 5.26.
4. Page 39 Action RAA 9 - RAA 16.
5. Page 54 Section 5.74 - 5.75.
6. Page 54 Action RAA 57 - RAA 58.

Also with regard to the Integrated Management Strategy and Conservation Action Programme of The South Pennine Moors the following questions are asked.

1. What is the distribution of Carduelis flavirostris piplans on Ilkley Moor and what part does woodland intensification play in it's survival on the Moor?

2. What effect on bird populations has the rise in recreational usage of Ilkley Moor had on ground nesting birds especially where uncontrolled dogs run loose?

3. Page 18 Section 1.16 of the above Management Strategy is interesting with regards to the Friends of Ilkley Moor stand on Bracken control.

4. As too Page 50 Section 2.24.

5. Are Friends of Ilkley Moor doing a Heritage Strategy for Ilkley Moor and if so what form is it taking?

6. Given the major part Cranbrook has played in making Ilkley Moor world famous, will Friends of Ilkley Moor consider twinning with the Kentish town?

FOR WHO THE BELL TOLLS!

Yorkshire is full of ancient customs especially when it comes to travelling across it’s dark and dangerous moorland. Many have fallen foul of Bargest on winter’s less than wonderful highlands. Those heading for Rippon would, hopefully, hear the sound of their Hornblower calling from the Market Square. An ancient custom could soon be revived on Ilkley Moor as few today have heard Ilkley Moor’s Toll Bell.

Professor Arthur Lyle of Nether Flushdyke suggested converting the old radio station to a Tollers Tower. A descendant of the Tollpiddle Martyrs Professor Lyle has revived many transport customs throughout the world. He is a leading exponent of pedestrian campanology. Sources infer the old radio station on the Keighley side of Rombalds Moor is to be used as part of a pilot study. Volunteers are to begin the conversion.

The route dates back to Roman times if not before. Upkeep of the road has been a headache for Bradford for many years until the suggestion of a pilot study was brought to a councillor’s ears. Having a gate is very similar to a turnpike of yesteryear. Professor Lyle’s survey of the route established there was a definite need for a Toll Bell especially in winter when visibility was at it’s lowest. It is suggested two be employed, one in the tower and one of pedestrian nature should the weather turn really bad.

Sarcastic comments were heard in council chambers regarding the use of Toll Bells, until it was pointed out bells were used at sea to keep ships away from rocks, and no-one complained about them. It was decided the Rombell – not to be confused with a Romboid – would alert those traversing the road in one direction or the other. Professor Lyle will carry out pitch tests around the end of March to determine the frequency of bells to be used. A small fee for the service would, hopefully, go to the upkeep of the road while reviving another ancient Yorkshire custom.


NB – Not to be mixed up with the Tolpuddle Martyrs!

D Series Saloons.

Wharfedale Forums

I read recently where Citroen were to re-introduce their D-Series saloon. Ideal for those areas with speed bumps, pot holes and similar obstructions. This brings back to mind the ‘wallows’ used in parts of America to slow traffic without damaging vehicles. Perhaps Citroen should do a survey of the country as a whole and place their dealers in the worst areas. Granted it would just be like those in charge of our highways and byways to suddenly find some brass and fill those pot holes.

PEDESTRIAN AWARENESS

Now we have a new representative on Bradford Council might Ilkley’s pedestrian public look forward to a plethora of road surface embellishments (– yellow and white lines), safer sidewalks, repainted crossings, arboreal replacements for Brook Street, and less of the vertical fairy lights in our so-called conservation area. While a section of the community complain about road signs on boundaries how many realise their lives are put in danger by others? Over the years signs erected to warn pedestrians and road users have or are becoming obstructed by nearby vegetation. Denton Road and Leeds Road for example.

Trees overhang signs at crucial bends, road junctions, crossings or speed signs while on Denton Road verges on both sides too. While others are joined by more obstructing those originally put in place. If a peasant writes to the Departments concerned they reply, ‘We haven’t any spare cash.’ So who pays for new signs? The pedestrian public are desperate for someone to coach them in Physcic Awareness. Indeed it is something close to every pedestrian’s heart. More so with ever more over priced developments, vast Teutonic automobiles, mobile ghetto blasters and motorists seemingly unable to read their driver’s handbooks or anything else for that matter.

In days of old we knew which way a horse and carriage was about to turn because the driver signalled with their whip. Later pilots of the infernal consumption engine waggled their arms in various and wonderful directions for the same purpose. Today the lack of signalling equipment on horseless carriages requires one to read motorist’s minds. At least try to. Many pilots appear not to notice pedestrians in the middle of the Station Road crossing or any other crossing for that matter. Perhaps if they used cushions or raised their driver’s sets, they would see the petrified peasant hung from their front fender.

Less spent on the superfluous and more on the needy would make our side walks and freeways safe and enjoyable for all. Ilkley may well be The Address to abide in but spare a thought for those who prefer to amble instead of auto.

Mutt Control

At one time it was generally thought folk not of the area were to blame. Now we have an influx of folk not born to the rural way of life, who don’t understand why we have agriculture, who think their right to roam doesn’t include respect for other people’s property. The problem as many Country folk see it can only get worse.

Readers of a certain age (isn’t that a wonderful saying - of a certain age) may remember the actions of a Burley farmer. Who, on seeing dogs in his fields, requested the owner put her animals on leads. Said owner refused and the farmer became more vocal. “Lead them or next time they’ll be shot for running loose in fields of sheep.” Unfortunately for the dogs their owner thought nought for their welfare ignoring his request and warnings. On their next visit they lost their lives to the gun. It wasn’t the dogs fault, or the farmer protecting his sheep and livelihood, just the stupid arrogance of their owner.

I’m not suggesting the same on Ilkley Moor. But the fact so many uncontrolled dogs, by that un-leashed, run where sheep should safely graze is dicing with death. Make no mistake even the most friendly animal can make what some would call an error of judgement. I have the scars to prove it! Don’t be such utterly selfish arrogant individuals. Keep your animals under control in the vicinity of sheep and other users of the Moor. You are only visiting; others live there and make their living from it. Might Petronius have writted ‘Cave homo’ instead of ‘Cave canem’ if he were alive today?