A new helicopter landing spot at Airedale Hospital is putting patents' lives at risk, it is claimed.

Seriously injured people flown in by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) now have a five-minute journey from the helicopter to the hospital doors.

The YAA said a new style of helicopter meant pilots could no longer land on the old pad right next to the Steeton hospital's accident and emergency department. Landings now have to be made in a nearby sports field, known locally as Nannyfileds. The casualty is then transported to the hospital building by ambulance, via Lyon Road, Green Lane and the main road.

In a statement released by Airedale Hospital and the YAA, a spokesman said: "The Airedale Hospital landing pad was initially designed to accommodate the original Yorkshire Air Ambulance, an old generation Bolkow helicopter. Because of its age and limited space for treatment of patients, the aircraft had to be retired. Its replacement, the new generation MD902 Explorer aircraft, is much more patient friendly and can carry more staff and equipment. However, this has meant that the new aircraft is not able to use the landing pad at Airedale Hospital due to safety reasons."

 A Steeton resident voiced concerns after watching a patient being flown in. He said: "I was taking a walk and I watched a helicopter land in the sports field. From setting off from the helicopter, it took five minutes and 35 seconds to get from the back of the hospital to the front. I couldn't believe it, that is too long - lives could be lost."

Five years ago Airedale Hospital chiefs took the decision to move the helipad from the front of the hospital to the back so it would be nearer the A&E department. The new landing pad meant that ambulance staff would have only 25 steps to take to reach the A&E doors, saving potentially valuable seconds. The old landing pad was replaced by a car park at the front of the hospital, a project costing around £40,000.

A YAA spokesman said: "The use of a land ambulance to transport patients the short distance from the hospital helicopter landing site to the emergency department is not that uncommon. This system is used in many other hospitals throughout the UK and not just in the Yorkshire region."

He also said that the Yorkshire Air Ambulance's two helicopters served a population of approximately five million people across four million acres and since the charity was set up in October 2000 it had carried more than 2,000 patients.

He added: "With the introduction of the second air ambulance in October 2007, we can now say that when a patient has been received by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, they will be on average a 10 minute flight from the nearest hospital."

The YAA charity admitted that the situation was not ideal and said it was working closely with Airedale Hospital to improve landing facilities at the site.

© Newsquest Media Group 2008

Cheerleading fever has gripped boys and girls at Steeton Primary School.

The eight and nine-year-olds have been going pom-pom mad with the help of cheerleading coach Sarah Porter, from Burnley Football Club.

The cheerleading manager - who this week took part in the World Cheerleading Championships, in Florida - has been teaching the children routines that she has performed on the football pitch.

She said: "It is very popular, the children at Steeton have never done cheerleading before so it is a new thing for them to try. Both boys and girls enjoy it, usually primary school boys take to it quite well but some of the secondary school lads don't want to get involved unless it is doing something more macho like lifts. Over the next few weeks I will be teaching the children routines that Burnley cheerleaders have actually performed on the pitch."

Head teacher Christine Newson said the school had funded the cheerleading exercises to enhance the children's personal development.

She said: "The pupils have opted to do it, we have just had some older children doing it between 8-9am and they are learning the routines during their school lunchtime. I am hoping that Sarah will come back and teach the children a routine that they can perform at our summer fair, in our centenary year."

Ms Porter said: "When I come back from the World Championships, hopefully I will have some new moves to teach them!"

© Newsquest Media Group 2008

Villagers young and old are invited to take part in a wildlife trail in Steeton on the May Day Bank Holiday.

St Stephen's Church is hosting an annual event in the church grounds, with families and children of all ages expected to join in a day of games and quizzes among other activities.

Schoolchildren in the area also have a chance to enter an art competition.

Event organiser Barbara Marsh said the activity sessions would not be hampered by the weather. She said: "We are lucky here in having a church, large church hall with two rooms and plenty of grounds, so with dry weather there is plenty going on. However, even if it rains, we go ahead as the trail is on paved, flat roads and only just a mile around the village without having to cross any main roads, and a large number of activities can take place inside the church as well as out."

The event will take place from 10:30am-3:30pm, on Monday May 5, with entry tickets for adults and children over 11 costing £2, children over two years £1 and family tickets costing £5. Children under the age of two can enter free.

© Newsquest Media Group 2008

A pharmacist has pledged to try to secure a health trainer to help people in Steeton and Eastburn.

Martin Cant, of Steeton Pharmacy, is trying to find funding to base a qualified professional in the pharmacy who would help people with wider health problems like losing weight and giving up smoking. The health trainer would be there for people to call on or would visit them in their homes to provide one-to-one help.

The pharmacist said: "It is important to get someone to devote a significant amount of time to help people to do things like stop smoking and lose weight, instead of us trying to do it as well as other jobs as well. I feel that within the Steeton and Eastburn area there are people who are socially excluded on the basis of age and illness and many are housebound, which means they find it difficult to access the available health care services. It is important to have someone to promote healthy living in the area and I have had a conversation with Mrs Newson, from Steeton Primary School, and I think there is a need to support the school and wider community with the Healthy Schools agenda."

The health trainer would be trained by the NHS and would also go out to visit community groups to promote healthy living and give more intensive support to improve the lifestyle of the local population.

© Newsquest Media Group 2008

Steeton Cricket Club is preparing to take part in NatWest Cricket Force on Saturday, an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) initiative with NatWest, aimed at rejuvenating local cricket clubs and giving volunteers an opportunity to get involved.

Steeton are expecting 50 plus volunteers, including players from all three senior teams and the five junior teams plus the clubs officials and supporters, to assist with painting, cleaning and general maintenance of the clubhouse and ground. The work will start at 11am.

NatWest Cricket Force is the biggest annual volunteering event in sport and is set to attract enough volunteers to fill Lord's Cricket Ground three times over (80,000).

David Proctor, Steeton CC Club Development Officer said: "NatWest Cricket Force will enable much needed work to take place at Steeton CC ensuring the 2008 season gets off to the best possible start. All we ask is that volunteers each give half an hour of their time on the 5th. As they say, many hands make light work.

"All players start their cricket careers at local clubs and it is crucial that we support the game's development. Good facilities and a fun environment can be the difference between youngsters staying with cricket or not and NatWest Cricket Force helps make clubs a real focus for community sports activities and volunteering opportunities."

To this end Steeton are running a cricket competition for U-11s on the day from 11am to entertain the children while their parents get on with the work. Food and refreshments will be provided.

Local organisations have also signed up to support the project including Morrisons and Rendezvous Hotel who have donated a dinner, bed and breakfast package which will be given as a prize to one of the volunteers on the day.

Dave Leighton, ECB club programmes manager, said: "We saw clubs do more for themselves in two days last year than they had for years before. It made a real difference, including increased revenue, improved facilities, increased participation and a great sense of community spirit."

Helen Page, Marketing Director, NatWest Retail Markets said: "The impact NatWest Cricket Force has in local communities exceeds expectations every year.

"The massive effort clubs, players, volunteers and our own bank staff put into this single weekend can benefit facilities nationwide for years to come."

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Councillors in Steeton and Eastburn are not giving up their fight to provide young people with activities, despite the flop of two meetings called to address the issue.

After repeated complaints from youths about a lack of things to do in the area, Steeton with Eastburn Parish Council joined forces with Bradford youth service to organise the meetings.

The hope was that young people would come forward with suggestions of activities they would like to see.

But to the disappointment of organiser Councillor Sue Thompson, nobody turned up at the sessions.

She said: "I am disappointed but not disheartened.

"I think when we looked at it there were good reasons why nobody came - some fliers had not been handed out in school and when the first session was held the weather was absolutely awful.

"But we have decided that instead of getting the kids to come to us, we will go to them.

"We are getting an entertainment van provided by youth services to go to the children and get them interested that way."

The van, driven by youth workers, will be up and running within a month and will camp out at places like Eastburn playing fields.

It will contain laptops and equipment for games like rounders and football.

"We did have a walk around and saw a couple of kids and they were quite positive and said that if they had known about the sessions they would have definitely come, so I am quite positive we are going to get there," said Cllr Thompson.

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The final whistle has sounded at the age of 85 for one of Keighley Rugby League Club's finest players of all time, Len Ward, who had lived for much of his life in Steeton, writes Roger Ingham.

Born in Castleford, Len was brought to Keighley at the age of 14 to live with relatives. After making an early impression in boxing, he tried his hand at rugby league with local amateur side Keighley Athletic where his talents soon attracted the attention of numerous professional scouts.

His loyalty to the local district and community at large though would see him look no further than Keighley for whom he remained throughout a truly outstanding career as a wing three-quarter who possessed all the prime top class attributes in both attack and defence.

Playing with a team invariably situated mid-division or lower - and in consequence of his awesome talent a well-recognised target for unscrupulous opponents - Len's 139 tries in 336 games was a truly remarkable achievement.

In addition - as a stand-in goal-kicker with the old fashioned leather ball - from just 50 attempts he booted 45 goals.

His five Yorkshire caps were scant reward for such an outstanding player who the famous Australian legend of the same immediate post-war era, Lionel Cooper, described as one of the most formidable opponents he had ever played against!

Needless to say, at the height of his career, he attracted offers from clubs in the higher echelons of the league and his loyalty to Keighley almost certainly denied him selection for the 1950 Great Britain tour of Australasia when many pundits clamoured for his recognition.

One of life's true gentlemen who was forever modest about his own achievements, and a wonderful ambassador for his sport, Len also played for Steeton Bowling Club and he sang for Steeton Male Voice Choir.

A funeral for Mr Ward will be held today at St Stephen's Church in Steeton. It starts at 2.45pm.

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An application for 22 new homes in Steeton has been rejected, despite support from planning officers.

Keighley Area Planning Panel refused the plans for 18 apartments and four terraced homes at Longlands, Skipton Road, even though officers felt they should be approved.

They said the development would not have a negative impact on nearby homes, would be shielded by trees and would not exacerbate traffic congestion.

A spokeswoman for the applicant pointed out there had been only one objection from a neighbouring resident.

She added the site was in a convenient location, so could easily meet the ongoing demand for more affordable houses.

Steeton with Eastburn Parish Council opposed the plans, stating that they did not include enough parking provision or space for children's recreation.

Parish councillor Karen Pickard said the homes would be "shoehorned" into the site, which was not large enough to accommodate this scale of development.

Panel chairman Councillor Chris Greaves said: "I'm rather worried by this - it's an awful lot of houses."

He and the rest of the panel refused the application, saying it amounted to over- development and would be out of character with the area.

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Steeton Parish Council has told a top police officer more needs to be done to let people know of changes in the way the force responds to crime.

Airedale and Bradford North divisional commander Chief Superintendent Allan Doherty attended a meeting of the council, where he responded to complaints from Coun Gladys Emmott that when she had her car stolen a police officer did not visit the site of the theft.

She said: "I rang Keighley police and nobody came here, nobody gives a damn."

But Chief Supt Doherty strongly denied this. He said: "That's not true that nobody gives a damn because I give a damn, but please tell me, if the car has gone, what is the purpose of coming?

"If someone came to see where the car was there is not a lot of value in that. If we come out when there is no need then we are wasting public money.

"What I am trying to get across is that the public has expected this fire brigade- style policing, where the public makes a call and the police visit, but there has been a change in how we deal with it.

"In certain crimes people need to come out, but in other crimes there is absolutely no need. When I had my house burgled people needed to take fingerprints and forensic evidence, but if the car is gone there is no opportunity to do that."

But Coun David Mullen said the police needed to get that information out into the public arena.

He said: "Around here there are a lot of elderly people and they need to know it is going to change because they are used to a policeman calling at their door. You need to tell them you are doing something, but that you are not going to go up and see them."

Chief Supt Doherty agreed and admitted: "We are not as good as we should be at keeping people up to date on their crime."

He said a new call management system meant an officer from the Neighbourhood Policing Team would keep victims of crime up to date on the progress of investigations.

Coun John Hargreaves also raised the need for more police officers to be seen walking around Steeton and Eastburn.

Chief Supt Doherty said there were five police officers dedicated to the area and they would not be called elsewhere unless there was an emergency.

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Youths in Steeton have been accused of using mentally ill patients to buy them alcohol.

The allegation was made at a Steeton with Eastburn Parish Council meeting by Councillor John Weller.

He told the council: "I have had reports that some people are targeting patients from the Willows to get drink for them."

But Sean O'Hanrahan, manager of the Willows Independent Hospital, said he had spoken to patients and they denied buying alcohol for other people.

He said: "I am going to have a review today of all the patients but so far there is absolutely no evidence to suggest they have been doing this.

"If it had been the case that some of the patients had been buying alcohol for other people then they would have said when I asked them."

Sgt Darren Minton, from Keighley neighbourhood policing team said that he had not been made aware of the problem but would look into it.

He did however maintain that tackling binge drinking was very high on the priority list for Steeton and Silsden, as it was for the whole of the Keighley area.

He said: "It is something we are trying to crack down on at the moment. It is not only a problem here but across the country and we would urge anyone who knows of people who sell drink to underage people to come forward with that intelligence.

"Steeton and Eastburn have gone quite quiet since the end of last year."

Meanwhile, Mr O'Hanrahan is holding a meeting to investigate the claims that his patients are buying alcohol for underage youths.

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Planning bosses are set to approve the construction of two blocks of apartments - one of 12 and the other of six - and a row of terraced houses on a plot of land at Longlands, off Skipton Road, Steeton, near Keighley.

The scheme has been opposed by Steeton with Eastburn parish councillors who claim the site would be too cramped and there would not be enough parking spaces.

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South Craven School pupil Charlotte Boulton has been rewarded for her cricketing prowess. Charlotte was recognised at a dinner organised by the Yorkshire Women's Cricket Association.

She was presented with the U-15s and U-17s batting award and the U-15s Player's Player award. She also received the Lord Taverner's award for the most promising player and the best batting award for Bradford Ladies.

This is just the latest taste of success for the Steeton Cricket Club all-rounder. In 2007 she was chosen as the Upper Airedale Junior Girl Cricketer of the Year. She was also called up to join the North of England U-19s training squad.

A number of youngsters from the Craven area have been selected by the Yorkshire Cricket Board to take part in the Pathways to Cricket Excellence Scheme.

Matthew Price of Bradley CC has been selected to take part in bronze level sessions being held in Pontefract.

The men's scheme also includes a silver and gold level, where in addition to fitness, skill, dietary/nutritional and net work, the youngsters learn of the psychological side of the game and advice for those who could make potential captains.

ECB-trained coaches can select students to progress through the higher levels during the course of 2008 scheme. In addition the students will be automatically reconsidered for the following year.

However Howard Clayton, secretary of the Pathways to Cricket Excellence, said: "They need to show above average ability. This scheme is about taking the best and giving them the best coaching."

Chris Gemmel of Settle CC has been selected to take part in the gold level of the scheme, which had five students selected for the Yorkshire Cricket Club's Academy last year.

Cricketers chosen for the gold level are likely to compete for the Yorkshire School U-15s team or the Yorkshire U-16s and U-17s sides.

Former gold level cricketers include Matthew Hoggard, Michael Vaughan, Ryan Sidebottom, Anthony McGrath and Richard Dawson.

A total of 320 young cricketers are involved in the men's side of the scheme, compared to half that number of women.

Clayton said: "We're forever trying to develop the women's side of the game."

But he said it is harder to keep women interested in cricket, as many often move on to play other sports or take part in activities such as dance.

Two girls from Steeton CC, Charlotte Boulton and Katie Wynn, one girl from Upper Wharfedale CC, Lauren Harker, have been selected to take part in the gold level of the winter cricket coaching scheme.

These sessions are held at Headingley where the girls did fitness, skill and dietary/nutritional work before Christmas, and then from the beginning of January to Easter they have been doing net work.

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Staff at Airedale Hospital are donating pennies straight from their wage slips to Manorlands hospice.

The hospital, at Steeton, is one of the first in the NHS to initiate the Pennies from Heaven charity donation scheme.

Roger Pollard, director of corporate social responsibility, said it was a national scheme, but the NHS had only recently signed up to it.

The optional fundraising scheme involves staff rounding down their net salary to the nearest pound and donating the spare pennies to Manorlands.

Airedale estimates more than £18,000 per year could be raised for the Oxenhope hospice if every staff member signed up.

Trust chief executive Adam Cairns said: "When we asked staff who they wanted to support, Sue Ryder Care was their fist choice. We have done a lot of work to publicise this scheme and we are encouraging people to support it because it is a good, simple way to give to charity."

Steve Davison, manager of the hospice, said: "It is not just the money, which is obviously important for us because if we do not have the money then we cannot provide the care, but it is also about showing how we can work together.

"We work very closely with Airedale Hospital and we have staff who go between us and the hospital and also patients who come backwards and forwards.

"It was a nice surprise to hear it had chosen us to donate to because we didn't really know we were on the list until the decision was made."

The donations are also available for gift aid, which means an extra 28 per cent will be added by the Government. Airedale Hospital will review its chosen charity in a year's time.

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A Thai boxing instructor from Steeton has been named as manager of the England Thai boxing team.

Robin Shepherd, 29, who was born at Embsay and runs Thai boxing gyms at Eastburn and Bingley, steps into the position which was vacated by previous manager Mark Corfield.

However the role will not be entirely unfamiliar to Shepherd, who coached two of his students, Vicky Lakin to silver medal at World Muay Thai Association Championships last March, and Ben Molloy to a gold medal at the European Championships in October.

Shepherd said: "I've had a lot to do with organising the teams already there.

Shepherd is looking forward to taking on his new role.

He said: "It's good because I'll get to travel quite a bit with the team."

Upcoming events include the World Championships in Bulgaria in March, the World Martial Arts Games in Bangkok and the International Muay Thai Games a week after that.

However it costs the fighters and coaches money to attend these events, which can be prohibitive for Shepherd and his students.

Shepherd said: "I literally can't afford to be at all of these event. The cost is way too much."

But he is hoping that Sport England will be providing some funds in the near future as the 2012 Olympic Games approach.

Although not currently recognised as an Olympic sport, Shepherd is hoping that will change in the near future.

One of Shepherd's students, Ben Molloy, is also finding the travelling costs expensive and he is seeking sponsorship so he can train and attend a competition in Oubon, Thailand, in March.

If Molloy raises enough money to go to Thailand, the 17-year-old Molloy, who is from Sutton, will be making his debut in a professional fight.

His amateur record in four wins out of five bouts but he said amateur and professional fights are much different.

"It's a big step up," Molloy said. "As an amateur you have to wear a headguard, bodyguard, shinguards and elbow pads. There's none of that in a professional bout."

He also said that professional bouts consist of five two-minute rounds while they are only three two-minute rounds at the amateur level.

Shepherd spoke highly of Molloy.

"To be a Thai boxer at their own game is something that would give Ben a boost."

Anyone interested in sponsoring Molloy is invited to visit his Thai boxing club's website at jaifreestyle.co.uk.

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A British Transport Police officer has said that Steeton and Silsden Railway Station is being monitored for anti-social behaviour.

Sgt Richard Price attended a meeting of Steeton with Eastburn Parish Council last Wednesday and spoke about his powers to police the railway station.

He said: "I have been on the team since last October and when I took over it was reported to me that these lines were very quiet and I am always sceptical when people tell me that.

"But it is true enough - you don't get people reporting many things but that doesn't mean that nothing is going on and the more time I spend here the more cases come up."

He went on to say that residents had complained about crime and bad behaviour around the train station, particularly at weekends.

He said: "There is a problem with anti-social behaviour and urinating on the platform and things like that.

"But to be honest those reports have mainly been over Christmas and since then the problem has mainly been car crime and damage to vehicles.

"As far as anti-social behaviour is concerned, we can write to the youth's parents but you don't seem to get rid of the problem, it just appears to get passed on to another station."

The discussion preceded a report on police crime figures for last month, which showed that reports of vehicle crime had rocketed in the area.

Councillor Hargreaves said: "Every meeting it comes up that we are not getting the police presence in this area and we are not. There used to be plenty of police in this area but there aren't now - they have just taken them away."

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Two tree-planting days are being staged by the Forest of Bradford group.

The first is at Redcar Wood Farm, off Redcar Lane, Steeton, Keighley, on Saturday, March 8, and the second at Marsh Top Farm, off Marsh Lane, Oxenhope, on Saturday, March 15. Both sessions are from 10am to 3pm.

Anyone is welcome to go along, taking a packed lunch and wearing warm waterproof clothing. Information can be obtained from Ian Butterfield or Shaun O'Hare on (01274) 718420 or by emailing ian.forestofbradford@beat.org.uk

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An over-50s society has been created in Steeton.

The society was set up after a meeting at Steeton Methodist Church revealed there was a need for some older people to get out of their homes and into a new environment.

The club will run social events where people can drop-in, chat and play board games.

Society secretary Sheila Gillet said that thanks to some generous donations, the society had been able to buy board games and a snooker table for its meetings, which take place at the Methodist Church.

She said: "We received £400 from the Community Chest and £217 from the Craven Trust to get the society off the ground.

"We are just overwhelmed with their generosity.

"People were bringing their own board games to the meetings but now we have been able to buy our own, so we would just like to say a big thank you to those organisations.

"There are a lot of older people living on their own who just want to get out for a couple of hours and have a chat.

"Last week we had 25 people turn up and the week before there was only 15, so it shows interest is growing."

The Over 50s Society is having an open day on February 13, from 2-4pm, in the village Methodist Church and anyone over the age of 50 is invited to join the group.

It also plans to advertise the new club by delivering leaflets and posters throughout the village.

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Cases of hospital-transmitted infections at Airedale have decreased over a year.

Speaking at an NHS Trust Board meeting, chief executive Adam Cairns described the progress of the Steeton hospital in reducing MRSA as "excellent".

"We haven't had a hospital MRSA acquired infection since August, which is very good," he said.

Airedale's percentage of C-difficile cases is also down on last year and the trust says it has increased hand-washing compliance from 80 per cent to 95 per cent.

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Disabled passengers will still face a half hour trek to catch their train even if a new 200 space car park is built.

If they can't make the half mile trip to get to the Leeds-Bradford platform at Steeton and Silsden railway station , they are forced to catch a train going in the opposite direction, so they can swap platforms more easily further up the line.

At the moment disabled passengers can't take the most direct route - taking only a few minutes - because of a flight of 40 steps up and 40 steps down from the car park to the Leeds-Bradford platform.

Now, disabled travellers are demanding action to put a car park on both sides of the station.

But a spokesman for the county transport body Metro said to create a car park on the Bradford side would be "an expensive job" because the land is on a flood plain and would need raising.

The plan for a new car park on the Skipton side should stop commuters, who travel from North Yorkshire and Lancashire, from parking on streets and angering residents in the two villages.

Cllr David Mullen, who is disabled, from Steeton with Eastburn Parish Council, said that if the car park was built, the extra spaces would be of big benefit to the area, but would not help the disabled.

He said: "Steeton is just like one big car park at the moment. People are coming in from as far away as Burnley. They all come into Steeton because that is where the Metro fares start, and there is quite a difference in cost between there and further up."

But he said that, even with the new parking, the railway would still effectively function as two separate stations for disabled people.

Because there are no parking facilities on the Leeds/Bradford bound side of the station, disabled passengers currently face two unappealing choices.

They can park on the Skipton-bound side and get to the correct platform via the station access road. They have to go over the railway bridge, across Station Road, up to the roundabout and down the disabled access route - a distance of about half a mile. Or, they can get on a Skipton-bound train and switch platforms in Skipton to catch the correct train to Leeds or Bradford.

Because the Steeton station has no facilities such as disabled lifts or ramps across the track, wheelchair users returning from Skipton are faced with the same problems.

Cllr Mullen, said: "As you are now, you have the station car park on one side, and if you are wanting to go to Leeds you have to go over the road and down to the other platform."

Diane Dale, project co-ordinator for support volunteering at Keighley Volunteer Service, said it was important for disabled people to have good access to public transport so that they can partake in the same everyday activities as able-bodied people.

She said: "Some of the people we work with are physically disabled and it is important for us because the volunteers we work with have to get to their placements and for that they need public transport.

"It is imperative that people can get to the same places you and I can."

But a spokesman for county transport body Metro said the land nearby is on a flood plain, so to create a car park for disabled users at the other side of the station, the land would need to be raised, which is an expensive job.

Metro added: "We will be attending a meeting with the rail industry, local council and representatives of the company which owns the nearby land and wants to construct a car park."

The car park is planned for an area currently owned by Airedale Tree Surgeons.

At a Joint Transport Working Party - which includes the town councils of both Silsden and Steeton - disabled access was highlighted as an issue that still needs to be addressed.

Craven ward councillor Adrian Naylor, who chaired the meeting, said: "The concept is a good one but many issues still need to be resolved, such as how vehicles will enter and exit the site.

"There are currently two suggestions, either a one-way system, or widening the current entrance to allow two lanes of traffic to exit the site and one to enter.

"Other issues discussed concerned pedestrian safety and the possible need for a crossing, access for disabled users and the need for improved lights."

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Airedale Hospital is taking part in a major deep clean this week as part of a nationwide programme to keep hospitals clean and safe.

The 10-week programme of intensive cleaning - which will see each ward and patient bay in the whole of the hospital deep cleaned by expert company Operon - will take until the end of March to complete.

It follows the launch last August, by Chief Executive Adam Cairns, of plans for a major focus on infection control.

The programme has resulted in the fall of infection rates and improvements in hand hygiene, and new investment in patient equipment such as high-tech catheters to help stop the spread of infection in high risk patients.

The Steeton-based hospital already has an award-winning in-house cleaning team who use the latest technology to help reduce infection in their daily task of keeping the wards clean.

It is also taking part in the Safer Patient Initiative, a two year programme where hospitals work in pairs - Airedale is teamed up with Bradford - to test out ways of making care safer in three areas of the hospital - on the wards, before, during and after operations and in critical care.

Bridget Fletcher, Director of Nursing at Airedale NHS Trust says: "Tackling infection and hygiene is a major focus this year and so is an absolute priority for all our staff.

"We are already seeing infection rates in our patients fall and this is clear evidence of this hard work creating positive results."

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A former chairman of Steeton Male Voice Choir has died after living with Parkinson's disease for a decade.

Seventy-three-year-old Robert (Bob) Metcalfe Shepherd died at his Grassington home, with his wife of 39 years, Jean, at his side. Bob was born on February 5 1934 and was one of nine brothers and sisters.

He was brought up on a farm near Horton-in-Ribblesdale, where his love for wildlife and the countryside began.

He studied engineering at the then Keighley Technical College and went on to work as an inspector at Dean, Smith and Grace, in Keighley, before taking the position of co-director of Wharfedale Gauge Company.

Bob did his National Service in the RAF, where he serviced and repaired planes. He loved flying and always dreamed of owning his own light aircraft.

He was also a skilled motor mechanic and enjoyed restoring old Austin and Jowett cars.

Bob was a keen sportsman, taking part in athletics, football, cricket, bowls and golf. He was also a talented ballroom dancer but his main love was singing and he was honoured to hold the position of chairman of Steeton Male Voice Choir.

Bob played a full part in village life in Addingham for 25 years and more recently Grassington. He sat on parent teacher associations, organised fell races and acted in plays and countless pantomimes, where he was always cast as the villain.

Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease ten years ago but still led a full life until the disease got the better of him in 2006.

However, with the support of family, friends, health care professionals and his wife, Bob managed to stay at his home until his death. As well as Jean, Bob leaves three daughters, Annette, Denise and Yvonne, and three grandchildren.

A funeral service was held at Linton Church.

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It's no yolk. The forces of law and order in two villages have been scrambled to hunt a "phantom egg-flinger".

Residents of Steeton and Eastburn have been shell-shocked by the free range pelting of properties with eggs.

As yet no-one has seen the whites of the eyes of the suspect - a tall blond youth.

The information was revealed by Councillor Pam Blagden at a Steeton with Eastburn Parish Council meeting.

Council chairman Lorraine Harding even told the meeting of how she became a victim.

She said: "I was sitting in my dining room and suddenly in the middle pane of my window was a smashed egg dripping all over the glass.

"I thought what a waste of an egg, somebody could have eaten that'. I stared at it for a moment or two and then went outside to clear it up.

"It is just a nuisance really."

Cllr Blagden said the youth was described as tall and blond, and she confirmed that the villages' PCSO Andy Blood knew about the matter and was investigating it.

Cllr Harding said: "I hope PCSO Blood will be able to do something about this."

Cllr Sue Thompson reported that two youth sessions had been organised for 13 to 17-year-olds on March 12 and 19. They will take place at St Stephen's Church Hall, in Steeton, from 7-9pm, when there would be activities for young people.

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A Steeton man, who is said to have used his car as a weapon, will have his case heard at Bradford Crown Court.

Phillip Kevin Harrison, 30, of Station Road, is accused of dangerous driving in Sutton on September 22.

He appeared before Skipton Magistrates last Friday and had his case adjourned for committal proceedings on Friday, February 22. Harrison was released on unconditional bail.

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The Steeton Male Voice Choir celebrates its centenary with a number of concerts.

The 80-strong outfit, founded on February 3, 1907, starts with a massed male voice choir concert at St George's Hall, Bradford, on Saturday, April 26. Joining them on stage will be members of four other top choirs from the north of England.

The choir's patron, the Duchess of Devonshire, has invited singers to perform later in the year in the Painted Hall at Chatsworth and the National Trust wants the choir to sing in a floodlit concert at Fountains Abbey.

Later, they will tour the Republic of Ireland, where they will singing with the Dublin Mixed Voice Choir and the mixed choir of Tralee.

Celebrations will be rounded off with a concert in October at the King's Hall, Ilkley.

Members will hold a birthday party night at Steeton Hall, Steeton, near Keighley, on Sunday, February 3.

The choir's Robert Hamilton said: "We are proud that, whereas many male voice choirs face dwindling numbers, we have a membership of over 80 and are in great demand.

"We perform about 30 times a year in venues ranging from small chapels to cathedrals, concert halls and arenas."

People wanting tickets for the various concerts should telephone (01274) 569870.

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Conservative leader David Cameron says Airedale Hospital is a "shining example" of a successful district hospital.

And, on a visit there, he challenged the Government to invest in rural hospitals instead of centralising to larger centres.

Mr Cameron spent last Thursday morning at the Steeton hospital, working as a volunteer and meeting staff and patients.

"The Government like to say that the days of the district hospital are over but I would say, come to Airedale and see that district hospitals have a really good future. Airedale is doing a fantastic job," he said.

Mr Cameron, who arrived at Airedale at about 10.30am and left at about 2pm, said he had wanted to get behind the scenes. It involved spending time with some of the hospital's 300 volunteers as well as meeting patients, consultants and managers.

"I've had a really interesting day. Too often as a politician you visit a hospital, rush through and meet a few people," he said.

"Instead, today I have had a bit more time. I've been able to spend time going around with the volunteers on ward rounds, serve in the shop, talk to the management and have had lunch with some of the consultants."

Mr Cameron said during his discussions he had been made aware people were unhappy with the move towards larger centres of excellence.

"They don't like the regime of top-down targets or the Government's obsession with larger units," he said.

"This hospital has a really successful A&E and is a good example of a hospital serving a rural area."

He said what was important was that people got to know about a hospital's patient survival rates and that health care should be equal to that in Germany and France.

Patients and staff were really supportive of their hospital and had even praised the hospital food, he said: "There's a great spirit about this hospital; there's a sense that it's a really important part of the community."

Mr Cameron, who spent last week visiting hospitals around the UK as part of his party's claims to be "the party of the NHS", said the Conservatives would put more trust in health professionals to run hospitals.

He also talked about his party's plans to pay hospitals in relation to levels of success.

"Today, we have a system called payment by results. The hospital gets a payment for every patient it treats," he said. "I'm saying that, in every other walk of life, you get paid in full for a good service and, if the service falls short, you get paid less."

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A 100-year-old Glusburn woman died peacefully with her family around her.

Nora Adams Clarkson died in Airedale Hospital last Thursday, a month short of her 101st birthday.

Mrs Clarkson, who was one of nine children, was born in Lincolnshire and lived in Bradford and Leeds before moving to Steeton where she met her future husband, Harry Clarkson.

The couple married at Steeton Parish Church and had two children, Ruby, who has since died, and Margaret.

During the Second World War they ran a shop at Steeton Top and later lived in Silsden and then Sutton, where Mr Clarkson worked at Hartleys Mill.

Mrs Clarkson, a widow for 27 years, was a keen knitter all her life and was still making baby clothes to raise money for Manorlands hospice and cancer charities until recently.

Her daughter, Margaret Nicholson, said: "We are very grateful to all the people at Airedale Hospital, they were very caring."

Her funeral service is due to take place at Skipton Crematorium tomorrow, at 2.20pm. Mrs Clarkson is survived by her daughter, nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and five great-greatgrandchildren.

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Bradford Council has pulled its support for a village trials bike park - because of a staff shortage.

Steeton with Eastburn parish councillors are angered by the decision and plan to send a letter of complaint to the chief executive.

Shelley Smith, 15, first raised the idea of a skills area for trial bikers on Eastburn playing field early in 2007. The parish council backed the idea and was relying on technical support from Bradford Council parks and landscapes office to help draw up plans.

The local authority was also going to help drain the playing fields.

But now the parks and landscapes team, which has attended meetings about the park, has told the parish council it can no longer provide technical help due to a staff shortage.

Parish council chairman Lorraine Harding said: "Parks and landscapes have dropped us in it. They have let us down.

"It has been six months and they were meant to be putting it out to tender, but they have done nothing. They have delayed the project."

A spokesman for Bradford Council said: "We are currently working on a number of projects which have secured funding and tight deadlines and as a result we have had to reprioritise our work programme accordingly.

"However we have introduced Bradford Community Environment Project (BCEP) to provide the parish council with the technical support."

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A couple from Steeton spent the festive season at home after having their dream river cruise cancelled at the last minute.

Hazel and Robert Nicholas were due to travel to Germany on December 23 on a five-day cruise along the Rhine.

The first they heard of the collapse of the Gloucester-based company Travelscope was when they turned on the television news the day before they were due to leave.

"I turned on the television on the Saturday morning and it was on the news. In the afternoon a girl from Travelscope called to say the holiday had been cancelled," said Mr Nicholas.

The couple had booked the Christmas special after a particularly bad year which saw Mrs Nicholas diagnosed with cervical cancer and Mr Nicholas being made redundant from his job. Mrs Nicholas, a cleaner, has only just returned to work after being given the all-clear.

"I had to have a hysterectomy. I've also had to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy and this was like a present to me for being so brave," said Mrs Nicholas. The couple booked their holiday three months ago.

"We've never done anything like this before but we know people who have and they've all said we'd have a really good time. We just thought it would be really nice to be away at Christmas and not to have to worry about all the washing up," said Mrs Nicholas.

But Instead of cruising the Rhine , the couple spent Christmas Day with friends of the family and hope to book another holiday this year. "We'd not bought any Christmas food or anything and had spent all this money on warm clothes," said Mrs Nicholas.

They have been assured that the £694 that they have already paid will be refunded.

"The girl from Travelscope who called us was really nice. I felt sorry for her, she'd lost her job and had gone into the office to ring and tell people. There were people she'd been dealing with for years who'd lost their holidays," said Mr Nicholas.

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Tory leader David Cameron praised Airedale Hospital during a visit to the site today.

Mr Cameron, who spent half the day talking to staff and patients at the Steeton hospital, said Airedale's example refuted Government arguments that district general hospitals should be phased out.

"This is an incredibly successful, popular local hospital," he said.

"The Government thinks that the district generals are dead, but in fact these hospitals are adapting to the needs of a changing population."

Full story in next week's Keighley News.

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A Steeton man, charged with dangerous driving, had his case adjourned by Skipton Magistrates last Friday.

Phillip Kevin Harrison, 29, of Station Road, is accused of committing the offence in Sutton on September 22. The hearing was adjourned until next Friday for a decision on whether the case should be heard by magistrates or at crown court.

Harrison was released on unconditional bail.

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