Letters December 18th: Asian opposition to Muslim girls' school; no 'madrasa' for Brierfield; Victoria Park tree house; Mayor's 'Bit of a Do'; Nelson Christmas tree; hunting debate; dog warden needed; Alzheimer's not contagious
We Muslims girls don't want this school either
I AM writing to you after reading the letter from Lyarna Elizabeth Manley, of Brierfield, (Letters, December 11th).
Myself and my close Asian friends read this letter with interest and have to say, as Muslim girls born and bred in Nelson, we were 100% behind Lyarna's comments. She hit the nail on the head.
If we as Muslims feel the people who are insisting on introducing a Muslim-only girls schools are wrong, why should we not speak up and say so?
Lyarna stated this is the United Kingdom and not Divided Kingdom – how right this statement is.
For those Muslims who want to be divided, why do they not go back to Pakistan and enrol in Muslim girls' schools there, as in Pakistan they will not have the option of choosing.
Myself and my friends have enjoyed mixing with all classes, cultures and religions while growing up in Nelson. We have spent our lifetime working with Asian and English people and feel, through our experience, this is the only way forward.
We should applaud the Government for providing us with super schools our children can grow and learn in. I cannot remember seeing any super schools in Pakistan or any kind of investment in the education system as we have here, so why not make the most of it?
If Muslims want to go back to living in an apartheid situation, perhaps they should remember what the people in South Africa had to go through when they were segregated, and people like Nelson Mandela who have fought their whole lives to have a mixed, integrated society.
If the Muslims don't want their daughters educated in a mixed environment, we suggest you get the next plane home.
"A GROUP OF BORN AND BRED NELSON MUSLIM GIRLS"
It is a madrasa plan
IT was encouraging to read in the December Parliamentary Report by our MP, Gordon Prentice, he is actively opposed to the proposal by a Birmingham-based charity, Islamic Help, to convert Brierfield Mills into a 5,000 place "boarding school for Muslim girls".
As our MP rightly observes, such a development would have a colossal impact on other schools in East Lancashire. I agree and consider the proposal's impact would be a negative and dangerous obstacle to our community cohesion efforts.
The insertion of such an Islamic girls' school into our area's educational scene should be seen against the background of the growth of such schools – properly termed female madrasas – in Pakistan, particularly those in the North-West Frontier Province.
The role of madrasas have been the object of some concern in that country, linked to their alleged role in fostering extremism among young men. Statistics suggest the influence of female madrasas is also growing, with nearly 236,000 girls studying at similar religious schools across that country.
A study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council to the tune of 400,000 is looking at the reason why female madrasas have been gaining ground in Pakistan, as well as Nigeria, teaching ultra-conservative religious views and orthodox conceptions of women's roles at a time when state and development agencies have been promoting liberal ideas of gender roles.
The issues being raised by Mr Prentice's opposition to an Islamic girls' school at Brierfield Mills should, therefore, be of concern to all of us.
What, if any, is the demand for such a place in Pendle? Is there a danger of a process of radicalisation taking place, as has occurred in the case of Jamia Hafsa, the madrasa attached to the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Islamabad, which led to violent and deadly clashes between militants and the Pakistani state in 2007?
Our MP has rightly said he wants young people to mix and grow up together, learning from each other. He is right to oppose the controversial proposal to convert Brierfield Mills into a so-called "boarding school for Islamic girls", with all its attendant dangers of possible radicalisation as the existing female madrasas in Pakistan have been shown to be fostering.
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, let us call it by its proper name. A female madrasa is being proposed for Pendle and overseas Islamic girls. I wonder what other Pendle citizens think and what the Charity Commission intends to do about this proposal.
W.J. SKINNER Manchester Road, Barnoldswick
Letter was moving
In response to a letter from Lyarna Elizabeth Manley in last week's edition. I write to thank her for her wise and moving letter.
Just a few years ago a young man then just two years older than you are now and at that time living in a small suburb – sort of like Brierfield, but, in fact, in Chicago – wrote a wise and moving book called "Dreams from my Father". He later added another "The Audacity of Hope". With him, where he is and where you are and others elsewhere like you, then there is hope after all! Best wishes.
David Wilkinson
Tree house danger
I AM writing in response to the letter about the removal of the tree house from the riverbank near North Park Avenue, Barrowford.
The tree house – which was within Victoria Park – was taken down by Pendle Council's park-keepers as it was built over a swollen river, which is clearly very dangerous.
As the owners of the land, we are responsible for managing and maintaining the park, so it is safe for everyone to use.
In this instance, we were acting to ensure a serious accident could not happen and not simply removing it for the sake of removing it.
The park-keepers did try to speak to the children who had built the tree house to explain their reasons, but they had already left the park.
Pendle Council works hard to provide local people with safe, well-maintained, diverse, vibrant and accessible quality parks – and Victoria Park is no exception.
It has recently been given a 140,000 makeover, with a new play area and multi-use games area plus gym and sports equipment.
I hope local people continue to enjoy the park and understand our valid reasons for removing the tree house.
Debbie Taylor Landscape Architect and Project Manager Parks and Recreation Services Pendle Council
That was some 'do'!
LAST year, we missed going to the Mayor's "Bit of a Do", which we regretted when people told how good it was.
So this year, we splashed out on the modest price and caught our warm, comfy coach to the Muni.
What a great job they do of the table settings and excellent meal. It was piping hot and served by the fast-moving young staff as they whizzed around. Yum, yum, I could have easily eaten another Christmas pud it was that tasty, but had to make do with the consolation mince pie.
What a treat we had to follow in the shape of the very talented young musicians from Lord Street Primary School. The choir who came with them were in great voice and we all enjoyed singing along with them.
They really did a great job to entertain all us oldies (and not so oldies) – thank you all very much.
Last but not least, we had the professional entertainers who could fairly shake the rafters with their voices.
They even had a gang of lively ones up to dance in front of the stage. I am not sure whether the two people who were 100 and 103 were part of them, but they were in the audience.
FRANCIS AND MARGARET FORREST Dale Street, Earby
Cost-effective tree
I AM writing in response to the letter about the Christmas tree in Nelson centre.
I am pleased to report the tree did not cost the 14,000 mentioned in relation to Coventry's tree. Our tree cost about 2,000 and can be re-used year after year, unlike a natural tree.
Together with the new coloured lights on the town hall, in Market Street, around Memorial Square and outside the ACE Centre, it plays a part in helping Nelson be a town we can all be proud of again.
Regarding health and safety – we were not obliged to change to this kind of tree on these grounds. The new tree was chosen to be more eco-friendly and cost-effective – as well as fitting in well with the major new improvements to Nelson centre.
PETER ATKINSON Engineering Manager, Pendle Council
Dodgy argument
ANYONE with a modicum of common sense must realise that in trying to understand the arguments around such an emotionally charged issue such as hunting, it is not best advised to pay attention exclusively to the views of those on one side of the argument – for, or indeed, against.
Therefore it is sad, but not perhaps too surprising, to see Mr Pendle basing his discussion on the merits of the Hunting Act solely on a piece of agitprop from the Countryside Alliance.
Even if we ignore any ethical considerations completely, and concentrate purely on the truth of the points raised in Mr Pendle's article, it is plain to see the arguments quoted as to the ineffectiveness of the Hunting Act are generally rather dodgy indeed.
The alliance mentions how hunt membership is still healthy, for example with three-quarters of hunts having the same number of hounds. But hang on, was this the same alliance that before the act was passed were predicting an apocalyptic scene of mass putting-down of hunting dogs and rural unemployment based on their forecast of a collapse in hunting?
Apparently, the Act is, in addition, so ineffectual that repeal is "now on the political agenda" with the likely advent of a Tory government.
This being the same repeal act, of course, the Conservative high command is now desperately trying to quietly shelve, due to being petrified of then being bound as a new Government to immediately repeal an act with 85% public support (according to a recent IPSOS-MORI poll).
As for the Act being a "farce", a 2008 FOI request showed there had been 14 (not six) prosecutions in the three years after the Act. It has largely succeeded in stopping the hunting of foxes with dogs in Britain today. I can, for one, think of more farcical recent legislation!
I am not seeking to argue for or against hunting, and would equally pour scorn on an editorial that relied solely on similar agitprop from the League Against Cruel Sports, for example. But if anything, history has taught us that blindly accepting the views of one interested party on an issue as gospel truth is a rather risky course of action.
CHRIS RICHARDS Address supplied
Service is worse
I WOULD like to comment on some aspects of recent letters on the local health subject. I don't belong to any political party or persuasion, but follow closely the activities of our MP. (I would encourage readers to follow them by logging on to www.theyworkforyou.com) and can see he is very busy on matters relating to local, as well as wider national, issues.
I believe he, like many of us, expected the transfer of A&E to Blackburn would result (eventually) in a better service for us all. As it becomes increasingly clear the service is worse rather than better, our MP is rightly looking for answers.
His question (in the House) about who exactly were the decision-makers in the change is important; we hear a lot about public consultation and involvement but many of us will recognise this as just "window dressing".
If medical professionals were in the lead, are they working in our interest or are they more concerned to get state-of-the-art equipment which can only be afforded when installed in one large site like Blackburn?
If the "bean counters" were leading, then could cost-cutting be their real objective? (We know East Lancs hospitals had aspired to trust status and needed to reduce costs to achieve this).
We have voluntary committees who are supposed to be working with these organisations but, again, they seem to be more "window dressing", working only on the fringes of any real decision making.
Mr Prentice is right to ask how accountable the decision-makers are, and we may wonder that if trust status (which will give the hospitals' board even more decision-making power), will really be in the public interest or more in the interests of the management board.
CONCERNED OBSERVER Name and address supplied
Nelson reunion
Almost 15 months ago, we began to publish a regular magazine for former students of Nelson Secondary School (1895-1945), Nelson Grammar School(1946-72) and Walton High School(1972-2007). All these schools have occupied the same site in Oxford Road in Nelson which is currently occupied by Pendle Vale College.
The magaine is called "Nelson Reunion" and comes out by post every two months. It runs to 30 pages per issue, with many photos. Already, we have well over 200 members from across the world - China to California, Canada to New Zealand. Even Wheatley Lane to Brierfield! These are all former pupils, between them ranging from those who were at school in 1926 to those who were there in 1986!
If you are a former pupil of any of these schools and wish to have details, contact me.
REV. DAVID WISEMAN, 4, The Ginnel, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 2HW
Praise for all
I DON'T know which recycling centre E. Stronach (Letters, December 11th) went to, but such criticism can only reflect badly on the many sites in Pendle which provide an outstanding service.
I am a regular user of the Barnoldswick and Colne centres and have nothing but praise for everyone who works there. Someone is at my car as soon as I have parked to help me unload and all the staff are always cheerful and friendly despite doing what must be a physically challenging job in all weathers.
Like all council departments, they have their targets to meet and the efficient service provided at both branches has led to a significant increase in the amount of rubbish being recycled rather than going to landfill.
So, E.Stronach - yes, you are absolutely right, the council has trained its men so very well!
"RECYCLER"
We need warden
I HAVE just read in this newspaper that a dog warden caught a woman who did not clean up after her dog.
We, the residents of Birtwistle Fold, could do with one to catch the dog walkers who allow their dogs to foul the pavements and gardens near our homes.
We are all in our late 80s and 90s. We sometimes cannot put our washing on the line for dog dirt on the garden. We have no pets of our own as we are not allowed them.
We have to be careful when we step out of the gate or you step in it. We are council tax payers.
"OAP" Birtwistle Fold, Colne
Who cares?
I HAVE a husband with Alzheimer's disease who used to be a very active man, giving a lot of himself to different organisations. He was a keen cyclist, becoming a life member for Pendle Forest Cycling Club, being their secretary for many years. He used to sing with Colne Orpheus, becoming secretary there, also for many years.
He joined Pendleside Probus Club when it was just setting up, becoming, once again, secretary.
He was also the sick visitor. He went all over, visiting Keighley Hospital, Barnoldswick, and many more places to see if people were getting better.
You might wonder why am I telling you my husband's history. I wanted to tell people that Alzheimer's is not contagious.
It's gone on for years now but I wish these men's clubs would have picked up a telephone or made a visit.
MRS JOAN BETTERIDGE The Warings, Nelson
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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