Dear Editor,
  Reasonably priced accommodation is an essential of life and the provision of affordable housing needs to be secured as urgently as possible.  When clerk of the parish in Dent, I instigated the search for, and worked hard to secure the Glebe Fold site for affordable housing in the village.  As a parent of four young adults setting up their own households, I know how hard it is now to start on the housing ladder, with high prices, when dwellings are considered by many as investments, not as homes.  How dispiriting for our young people to find the small houses, that once made their starter homes, fall to developers and then emerge recycled as 'holiday cottages'.
  Against this background how was it that after consultation and a lot of thought I concluded it was not right at this stage to see the Guldrey Lane site released for residential development?  It lies in the first remarks I made to the committee, after Dorothy Blair had made her contribution on behalf of the parish council, that unfortunately, at some stage the two things one hopes to see on any planning agenda of the National Park Authority, development of reasonable cost accommodation and the advancement of employment come into conflict.  The submission made by Sedbergh Parish Council was that members were against the application, conscious it is a designated industrial site and were concerned to lose an employment site.  One has to consider what is in the best interests of Sedbergh, having regard to the directives in the local development plan.
  To appreciate the background it is necessary to know what the 'system' is.  The Yorkshire Dales National Park, as with all nine other parks, is considered to have landscape which has a national value.  The whole area is designated as having that quality, whether it is on the top of Ingleborough or a field along Cautley Road.
  Very tight boundaries are drawn round the perimeter of settlements including Sedbergh, beyond which any new building will not be allowed, except affordable housing, which can be, if it is right next to an existing settlement.  The strategy should be to locate affordable housing, using this exception, not taking up the limited employment land.
  Historically, within settlements some sites have an existing designation as employment land.  The Guldrey Lane sites have it.  It is not a pretext but a fact.  They are valuable sites for providing the second of the essentials of life for a community, work and economic activity.  They are so important that the 2006 local development plan, the blueprint for guiding development which has been worked out by officials and representatives together, specifies:  "Development that would lead to the loss of existing employment land will not be permitted".  Employment sites are protected with good reason. 
  Should the Guldrey Lane site continue to have this protection?  How important is employment land for Sedbergh?  We talk of "sustainable communities".  I understand this to mean that work should be near to where people live, so that there are not long journeys to maintain work/life balance and local work is needed to maintain a population of the 20-60 age group, which in turn, produces the next generation of children.   Without other work the town will be a community limited to tourism, seasonal and often poorly rewarded, second homes and retirement haven.  All the eggs should not be in the tourism basket.  The economy needs diversity.  A significant employment source, Baliol School is unfortunately, likely to close in the foreseeable future.  In recent times even the long term viability of Sedbergh School was subject to question.  Look at these factors and you see how doubly valuable is a site, which already has service infrastructure laid on with a presumption in favour of its use for work activity.
  A feature of the application by M.K. Conversions was whether any effort had been made to find an employment use before turning to residential development.  There did not appear to have been any.
  All 15 members of the committee voted against the proposal.
  The site to the north owned by Cumbria County Council is also important in this context.  It is a larger site.  Some will remember it as the highway depot, many will not know it exists.  The site has laid waste for over 20 years.  In 1996, the Council tried to get planning consent for residential development, but it failed on the basis that it is for employment use, reinforced by the planning inspector to whom the County Council appealed.
  It has continued to lay moribund since then.  Why?  The charitable view is, that it is so far away from Carlisle it has been forgotten, or the lesser one, that if a plot is sat upon long enough the financial fruit of residential use will ripen and drop.
  Leaving these sites fallow does not square with South Lakeland's claim, they being responsible for economic development, that there is a shortage of employment land in the district.  Do they think only of Kendal when suggesting sites?  Here is a public asset which has been unused for two decades?  Guldrey Lane is only 5 miles from the motorway with good routes to the A65 and A66.  If there is a shortage of employment land this site with its qualities must attract attention, if it is pushed.  Leyburn will soon have another business park.  Why not Sedbergh?
  In the course of the debate a member from Richmondshire, where they seem to achieve a lot, urged that councils and councillors should move to explore the potential of these Guldrey Lane sites for employment, rather than they remain moribund.  It is a suggestion I fully endorse and hope the County, the District and the Parish Council, which I have urged to do so before, will find a means to undertake a serious examination and endeavour to bring the land back into employment use.  It cannot be left for another two decades.
  What employment might be attracted?
  There is a need for modest size premises to rent for business or office use.  It could be a large unit.  I can think of one business with highly skilled labour, where changes are coming.  A care home qualifies as employment use.  A new one has just been built with government funding at Bainbridge.  Why not Sedbergh?  Our elderly would not be dispersed  round Cumbria and North Lancashire.  The new development in Leyburn will be offices, light industrial workshops, storage and distribution units.
  Coincidentally, on the same agenda as the Guldrey Lane application, M.K. Conversions Ltd., had a second planning application.  It was for the continuing use of the site at Marthwaite as a builders depot.  There has been continuing problems there, breaches of planning permissions, neighbour complaints about things not done, noise etc,.  It is a site in open countryside and some with influence in National Park affairs, consider that such developments are incompatible with National Park purposes to preserve and enhance the countryside and should not be allowed there, especially not near public footpaths.  That is not a view I share, and I spoke in very strong support of its grant.  The main reason for doing so was employment.
  Apologies for the length of this article, but Sedbergh's needs and how to meet them are important, and require anxious thought and effort.
G.W. Dalton, YDNP Member,
Sedbergh, Garsdale and Dent Parishes.

  On 18th October, Kevin Lancaster gave a lecture to a large audience in the Memorial Hall on this subject. He took us back to the time of Piers Plowman in the 1400's to the mid 17th century, when the agricultural cultivation differed significantly from the pastoral husbandry of today.
  The internet gives reasonably easy access to records relating to Crown property, especially if there has been legal proceedings in the Courts of the Exchequer where disputes relating to its rights and finances were adjudicated. The Crown rented out assets and what they were and dues payable were frequent matters of dispute.
  From information gathered in this way, the locations of four water powered mills for the drying and grinding of corn existed in Dent. The earliest in date were Over Mill in Deepdale, Nether Mill near to Barth Bridge and Parkin's Mill at Gawthrop, erected about 1520. The tenants of these mills had the monopoly of the right to grind corn into meal for which a charge in kind of the share of the production was taken, known as "multure". The monopolies were valuable, for which rents were paid to the Lords of the Manor, whose Lordship in turn was a saleable property.
  A fourth mill was built about 1590 at Rash, but the ownership of the site was claimed by the Lord of the Manor of Thornton-in-Lonsdale, whose henchmen pulled down the new structure, but determination saw it re-built, but Kevin questioned how well it had done financially as a mill.
  He raised the puzzling question of whether a fifth mill existed at Mill Becks? The use of the name demonstrates a probability that the location was occupied by a mill building, but apart from that proposition there is a lack of other evidence as to its existence.
  Mr. and Mrs. Sibley of Mill Cottage, Gawthrop, produced a floor tile made as a box with many small holes in the top and bottom surfaces, exactly of the type fitted to drying floors of mills. The artefact had been excavated from their garden, further proof of a mill building having been there.
  We were left with the impression that those who produced the corn crops, the toilers, were maybe unfairly exploited by those who did well out of financial wheeling and dealings in Lordships and multures. Plus la change ....................
  It was a most interesting lecture with a possibility there is further information as yet unearthed.

Going Places
  If you attended Andrea Hunter's wonderful Felt Workshop last month, travelled to the Lowry Centre in Manchester to see the Lowry Exhibition, followed by the sell-out production of Alan Bennett's play 'The History Boys', put your name down for details of regular cinema trips to the Brewery Arts Centre throughout the Winter, had lunch at The White Hart, Hawes - or walked past the desk at Farfield and they didn't charge you a penny - you're one of a band of 250 - and growing - Friends!
  For only £10 a year, or £18 for two people living at the same address (we save on the postage) you too can enjoy the bargain of the century - and if you pay by Standing Order we hold these ridiculously low prices for three years. Become a Life Member for £200 and you'll never have to pay again.
  What do you get?  Free entry for a whole year to a vibrant, welcoming Centre with a changing exhibitions' programme, a heritage floor with working looms, a superb range of unique paintings, ceramics, jewellery, wood carvings, hand -woven textiles, furniture and much, much more, produced by our resident artists and leading craftsmen from the North of England; a programme of social events which takes you to the door of the Bowes Museum or West Yorkshire Playhouse and avoids the strain of driving to the Brewery Cinema on Winter evenings; activities which include Masterclasses in Art and Craft, invitations to Previews and a Newsletter.   
  Most important, we offer an opportunity to play a part as a volunteer in the development and success of an Arts Centre with a fascinating past and an exciting future. I know, from personal experience, how rewarding it can be to be involved with an organisation, at a time of change and development.  Do join us now; there's a whole range of ways to make a contribution, from gallery stewarding to gardening  to becoming a member of the Friends' Committee.  I promise you one thing - you'll meet, and make, many Friends!
  For further information and an application form, 'phone Farfield Mill 015396 21958  or, if you're planning to visit us anyway, join on the spot - and save the admission charge, immediately.
  I look forward to seeing you soon!                                                                                                 Anne Pierson,  Friends' Membership Secretary

  Our hall has been transformed over recent weeks, now newly re- decorated with new lights sunk into the ceiling along with individual wall lights it is a much nicer atmospheric place to hold meetings and events. A recent hirer requested the black stage curtains to be hung to help create a smaller stage area for his performers. Thinking of holding an event? We have permanent hooks in the walls for the erection of Marquee linings. There is access for wheelchairs at both the front and the back, a lift between the Hall and Sedgwick/Haygarth Rooms, an Accessible WC, and kitchen facilities. Come on, give it a go. Bookings to Mrs McClurg 25446.                                                                       S E Woof.

  One of the most rewarding aspects of my role as councillor is working directly with and behalf of local residents.  This is particularly the case this past month, working with several residents living in South Lakes' properties who have endured a number of transitional difficulties during the course of their homes being refurbished.  Issues about the refurbishment programme were raised by several residents, each one of which I have taken up with the relevant officials to ensure a swift and effective response.  I have to say, when following these issues up, I have, on the whole, received a very positive response and more importantly, action from those I have called upon for assistance.  However, I am concerned about ensuring these problems are not repeated and procedures put in place to avoid further difficulties for residents of Sedbergh and elsewhere, hence calling in the Cabinet Portfolio for Housing, Brenda Gray, to look into rectifying these issues long term and raising the matter at full Council.
  I am also aware that a number of residents in the District rely heavily on our railway network for both work and personal reasons, hence my involvement collecting signatures in Kendal against the planned changes to railway services in the North West.  The planned changes involve services from Cumbria and Lancashire to the South and South West of Birmingham being cut, and a reduction in services from Windermere and Barrow to Manchester Airport.  Whether viewed from an environmental perspective or regarded as a public service issue, I feel strongly that we need to make a stand against such proposals and would encourage residents to write to Tim Farron MP or sign the petitions if asked.
  Talking of planned changes, you maybe aware of the Government White Paper - 'Strong and Prosperous Communities', which invites Cumbrians to consider opting for a unitary system of local government, replacing our current two tier system (District and County Council) and replacing it with one level of local government.  There has been a lot of discussion in the Westmorland Gazette on this issue, for this clearly has implications for all District, Town and Parish Councils, and timescales for responding to the White Paper are short, the deadline being the 25^th January.  I'll be being briefed at a special session of full Council on this matter and have very much an open mind at this stage, for several options are under consideration, but I would encourage any resident with specific concerns about this issue to contact me, by e-mail, or letter if it is more helpful, and I will do my best to pull all the thoughts and perspectives together and represent your views.
  Christmas will soon be upon us and I wish you all a peaceful and memorable time and a very prosperous New Year!
  With gratitude and best wishes,                                                                                                    Craig Stephenson

  Our meeting in October was a very fascinating look at the making of braids and cords by our speaker Marge Quinn, who brought a wonderful selection of her work.   The talk, along with some demonstrations, was entertaining and extremely interesting.   There seems to be no limitations when it comes to the making of cords.   Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon.
  We had a day's workshop with Christine Stanford who showed us how to make book covers.   This was achieved using a background fabric which was painted and then scraps of material applied and machine embroidered.   A really lovely day and at our November meeting we had a 'show and tell' with some of the finished pieces made up into books.
  Our November meeting was a most interesting look at the embroideries in Lancaster Priory.   This was presented by Hugh Barton whose father designed the panels.   Such wonderful work and everybody agreed that a trip to Lancaster Priory was definitely on the cards.
  Our next meeting is on Thursday 14^th December and starts at 1pm, at Cowan Bridge Village Hall.  Visitors are very welcome.   Telephone Ann Hunter on 015242 41120 for details.

Dear Editor,
  Regarding your article in last issue - "The Hellions, Where are they now?"
Despite being the original and longest playing bass guitarist with the Hellions, it seems that Carole hardly merited a mention, much less an invite to the reunion!
  One of her great loves in life has been horses and in the 1970's she was the British Ladies Harness Racing Champion. She has lived at Tebay for the past 18 years and together with her husband runs a successful Pony Stud. Their ponies are frequently seen at prestigious events like Olympia and The Horse of the Year Show.
  She is also a well respected Pony Judge and last year, together with her husband, gave a talk on British Native Ponies to a large audience in Pennsylvania. U.S.A. She has been invited to judge in the Czech Republic in 2007.
  She is also an accomplished artist and at the moment is working on a book about wild Fell Ponies, titled "A Walk on the Wild Side".

    Doris Haygarth.