2 The news that the old sewerage works at Esholt are to be reborn as a countryside park was initially welcomed by local residents. Plans subsequently released by the owners of the site, Yorkshire Water, may not be quite so well received though with a mix of industrial units and housing – 150 in total - offering a different perspective. This is one of the last truly open spaces in the district where we can walk and ride, young and old. It now looks as if it will become just another stretch of urbanization down an Aire Valley covered in concrete. Every inch of this plan needs inspecting with full consultations, not a solitary meeting to proclaim all is well. This is all we have left; everything else has gone, thanks to the useless politicians – local and national - and if this goes then there is no return, nowhere to go. For me personally it does not matter, my walking days are almost over but my kids and grandchildren have been lucky enough to have enjoyed climbing trees and all the things I did as a youth in Thackley. For future generations it will not be available. Don’t let it happen. Local elections are looming in May and soon we will have leaflets promising us all the Earth from those wishing to get at seat down at City Hall. Ask direct questions of these people; who are you? What will you do for us? How much do you know about this area? Many councillors live nowhere near where they claim to represent. Quite a few others seem only to get visible around election time. And what chance of anybody believing the local pretend politicians after the shambolic lot in Westminster? Bill Craven: Editor ADVERTISING RATES Email [email protected] Steve Wilson: Advertising Full Page £100 Email [email protected] Half Page £60 Mick Craven: Graphics Quarter Page £30 Email [email protected] Eighth Page £20 The Trumpit Community Fund at £507 is now so close to our target of £500 for distribution locally from our first “anniversary” in June. Generously matched to the tune of £500 by Lonsdale Estate Agents, we hope we can make a little bit of difference to good causes in the area. We welcome any business that wishes to help us—please contact Steve. Now is also the time to let us know where we might offer some help from the fund. 3 Idle Library Wright Watson Centre, Thorp Garth, Idle BD10 9LD Open Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 9-7pm Readers Group Mondays 5.30pm onwards. Storytime / Rhyme time (term time) every Monday 2-3pm & alternate Mondays 10am Young Readers Club Wednesday 3.30pm onwards (booking required) Coffee Morning The last Wednesday in the month (Inc. quiz and raffle, free coffee and cakes) The library also has a great selection of books and computers for public use (small charge for printing) For further information on any of the above please call 01274 952057 or find us on Facebook Idle Library at Wright Watson Centre Men’s Forum Meetings each Wednesday, 10.30am, Thackley Methodist Church Hall. Coffee 10am for 10.30 start £3 charge for overheads (Increase) April 3rd Mr Maurice Craven of Thornton “Oakworth House, home of Isaac Holden.” Apr.10th Mr Mike Bamford of Eldwick “What makes a light light?” Apr.17th Jaynee Moon of Leeds “Fair Trade” Apr 24th Members’ Own Choice May 1st Mr Geoff Twentyman of Odsal “Shaking With Laughter” Speaker Sec. Mr John Vickerman - 01274 618312 Email: [email protected] Facebook Idle Gossip Community page, motorsport, local news and events. Idle and Thackley Community Group Local views and news. Idle Memories Past and Present History, photos and articles. Idle Folk Up to the minute news, local events, reviews and what’s on. 4 GET MOVING! GET ACTIVE! Contact us to list your activity free here sponsored by Towngate Fisheries Acvity Organisaon Website Contact Cricket Bolton Vilas CC www.boltonvillascricketclub.co.uk [email protected] Hepworth Idle Thackley CC Football Idle Juniors FC hp://www.idlejuniorsfc.co.uk/ Thackley Juniors FC hp://thackleyjuniors.co.uk/ Karate Thackley Tigers www.thackleygers.org [email protected] Kick Boxing Kents Gym 01274 632727 Cathryn Bell Growing up with a dyslexic father had its advantages. Bob’s dog Whenever he caught me swearing, he used to wash my mouth out with soup. My wife asked if she could have a little peace and quiet while she cooked the dinner, so I took the batteries out of the smoke alarm My wife said I needed to be more in touch with my feminine side. So I crashed the car, burnt the dinner and ignored her all day for no reason Scientists have discovered a certain food that diminishes a woman's sex drive by 90 percent. It's called wedding cake. My wife shouted at me this morning for not opening the car door for her. I would have, but I was too busy swimming to the surface. 5 Dear Sir approached slowly like a snake in the Our council create controversy with their grass to get that one snap. You can see proposal to erect a new crematorium on the droplets on the grass and its eyes designated public parkland at Northcliffe through the spikey coat. Hedgehogs don’t Park, Shipley. May I suggest a viable have good eyesight and they are shy. If alternative is now available at Esholt Hall, you find any, dig a one-foot hole in the at present for sale on the open market. under growth near a hedge, line it with Situated in tranquil surroundings, the site plywood creating a box and stick some would be accessed from Idle and leaves in there. These lovely critters will Thackley via Ainsbury Avenue or Hollins save your crop and remember they are Lane from Baildon and Guiseley, with timid, so please don’t use any mechanical access already in place governed by gardening tools near their habitat.I hope existing road traffic lights. you all enjoy the picture. On the site at Esholt the existing sewage All the best, Alec dams are to be drained and levelled to (Apart from road vehicles they are a adjacent ground levels. This procedure favourite snack of Brock)Ed would create a car park for vehicles; surely this is at least worth a debate Yours Faithfully Mr Mike Smith Dear Councillors I know you said the Royal Mail would not Dear Sir put in a Post Box outside Drakes Hedgehogs are lovely nocturnal creatures Newsagents on Leeds Road, Thackley. and an undervalued friend of gardeners Despite petitions organised by myself to as they love get one put in and agreement by Richard feeding on (R & D Drakes) to have one outside which slugs and would be beneficial to the local snails. community still nothing. It now seems that Sadly, they if I bought an ex-Royal mail post box I are on the could seek permission for it to be put on endangered the pavement through highways and species list planning. I am now told by a Royal Mail and in representative, they would honour picking serious up post if we give them the keys to the decline. The photograph I took of this box—marvellous! The cost would be hedgehog was intended for National around £550.00. I am asking you all to Geographic, but instead you now find it in revisit this situation no matter what the Trumpit! For months on end I heard political party you belong to as this is a rustling outside amongst the leaves and benefit toward the community and local hedges but each time I went out in the businesses, disabled and OAP’s. I feel middle of the night I could see nothing. totally let down having to write this’. Just as I decided to give up I peeked Yours faithfully, Alec through the window and it was on my (Local election vote grabber? Ed) lawn so I grabbed the camera and 6 Joe King I laughed so much I nearly passed the sweets round Man: 'Doctor, my girlfriend is pregnant but we "Don't answer!" always use protection and the "condom never A drunk was in front of a judge. The judge says, broke. How is it possible? 'Doctor: 'Let me tell you "You've been brought here for drinking. The drunk a story. There was once a hunter who always says, "Okay, let's get started." carried a gun wherever he went. One day he took A while ago a new supermarket opened in his umbrella instead of his gun and went out. A lion Leeds. It has an automatic water mister to keep suddenly jumped in front of him. In order to scare the produce fresh. Just before it goes on, you hear the lion, the hunter used the umbrella like a gun, the sound of distant thunder and the smell of fresh and shot the lion and killed it!' Man: 'Nonsense! rain. When you pass the milk cases, you hear Someone else must have shot the lion. Doctor: cows mooing and there is the scent of freshly 'Good! You understood the story. Next patient, mowed hay. In the meat department there is the please. aroma of charcoal grilled steaks with onions. When The old kind of (Yiddish) humour you approach the egg case, you hear hens A car hit an elderly Jewish man. The paramedic clucking and cackling, and the air is filled with the says, "Are you comfortable? "The man says, "I pleasing aroma of bacon and eggs frying. The make a good living." bread department features the tantalizing smell of I just got back from a pleasure trip.