FLOODS

AS CHAIRMAN of North Yorkshire County Council, I have been extremely impressed by the admirable response of so many of our staff at the time of the recent flooding disaster.

I am sure that very careful advanced planning and the prompt reaction of so many on the day and since has been greatly appreciated by the public.

I commend and thank most highly all those who have taken part, and at the same time include in this the other public services involved who have played their part equally magnificently.

For many, the recovery period will be difficult and in some cases may be prolonged, but I am sure we will all do our best to ensure that the on-going problems are kept to an absolute minimum. - Councillor Michael Heseltine, Chairman of NYCC.

Redcar

I AM disgusted by Redcar council's attempt to close Redcar Beach Caravan Park.

Last year, all caravan owners were informed by Lido Leisure, which leases the site from the council, that the development of Coatham Enclosure would not affect the caravan park. The council confirmed this.

But on June 7 this year, the council cabinet voted to close the caravan park and turn it into a car park.

The council bought the site in the early 1950s under a covenant that said it should be used for the leisure of people and was not to be built on or used as a business.

It was developed into a caravan park in the early 1960s with all the revenue being ploughed back into the council.

I have been on the caravan park for well over 30 years and have watched my family and now my grandchildren enjoy the pleasures of the area.

It is not a holiday park where people let their caravans to other people. We are a community of well-respected people from all walks of life who have paid up to £25,000 for their caravans and pay just under £1,000 a year to keep them on the site. We put a lot of revenue into Redcar and the surrounding areas.

As many of us come from places such as Stockton, Darlington and Durham, we do not have a vote in the Redcar council elections. We must rely on the local community to express our views.

I ask the people of Redcar to lend us their support in retaining this site as a caravan park. - Ray Vincent, Darlington.

EUROPE

I AM a committed European who sees the need of the European Union to reform itself.

How can people who pay lip service to helping Africa - like France - continue to operate a system of agricultural subsidies which stops the nations they are supposed to be trying to help trade profitably with us?

This is not sustainable on the world's stage and I hope that the World Trade Organisation - if not Europe - causes the reform in the Common Agriculture Policy which those in Africa have been hoping for to liberate free trade. - Peter Frietag, Darlington.

BILL Morehead's morality tale applauding the wisdom of youth with regards to the European Union constitution is a classic example of youthful naivety (HAS, June 18).

In a land of innocence, the model supposedly developed by this student would be wonderful, sensible and right.

If one includes a number of relevant factors, a very different scenario appears. National characteristics, developed by 1,000 years of history, set the majority of British at variance with their Continental cousins.

We have had a period of history uninterrupted by invasion. During that time we have developed and defended the liberties we now have. However flawed, they are ours.

We've also had to fight off numerous Continental aggressors: Spain in the 17th century, France in the 18th century and Germany twice in the 20th century. Plus all the colonial wars in between.

Simply put, the British character does not react comfortably to the authoritarian presumption underlining EU initiatives. Europe is too small. The world is a global market, whether we like it or not. The British think globally.

May I suggest that Bill Morehead's student takes a course in British history, and then thinks again? - PJ Elliot-West, Sunderland.

TELEPHONES

OFTEN when phoning an information number, the result is that you are told you are in a queue and then you have to listen to dreary music while all the time your telephone bill is going up. It is not your choice.

So, with the technology available, is it not possible to transfer the call to the company who is extending it?

If this were possible there would be fewer companies who put most of the callers on hold. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

RUBBISH

AFTER reading the article (Echo, June 16) regarding fly tipping in the Sedgefield area, I would like to add that since the voucher scheme came into operation, I have noticed an increase in tipping in the Bishop Auckland area. Until the council goes back to the previous method of operating tips this will be the case.

Surely there's going to be more cost to the council in sending wagons and men to clean up the mess? - T Mayhew, Dene Valley Parish Councillor.

MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, who is 93, recycles her rubbish. Several octogenarians I know recycle their rubbish.

Why is it that able-bodied younger people are too lazy to bother?

The litter problem could be eased if residents picked up litter from outside their own homes instead of kicking it away and litter wardens should be around at school times and seeing that takeaway cartons are taken home or put into litter bins. - JA Barr, Darlington.

WIND FARMS

MANY people think that wind farm protestors are just 'nimbies', but all citizens should beware.

Planners have earmarked 500 sites in this county as suitable for wind farms. In addition, power companies have invited farmers to apply. This could amount to over 1,500 wind turbines. We could be totally swamped by these huge machines thanks to a directive from Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott telling councils to ignore protestors. - G Staff, Durham.

GROCERIES

THE letter from E Reynolds (HAS, June 16) brought back many happy memories when I was a grocery assistant and traveller for the Co-op.

Here is one day's work. Starting in Stockton by cycle, first stop was Campion Lane, Hutton Rudby, then on to Potto, Swainby, Shepherds Hill, returning to Hutton village via Doctor's Lane. In Hutton village, leave orders at pub to be collected and delivered to Yarm Co-op. On to Rudby village, collect orders and pay for butter and eggs which were collected the previous week.

On to Skitterskelfe and across the Parkland. Tame Bridge was the next call and then return to Rudby.

Cross the fields to High Foxton and then carry on home.

I think it was 1947 which was the worst year. Because of snowdrifts I carried my bike for some miles.

I received one shilling and sixpence for expenses. - E Laverick, Billingham.