Sir, - Before the last council elections as my wife and I went to vote at the Parochial Hall in Sowerby, Coun Mark Robson was standing outside the hall greeting voters.

I asked Coun Robson what was going to be done with regards to the bridge on Blakey Lane. The bridge had again been hit by another articulated lorry and the resultant repairs having just been completed prior to the voting.

Coun Robson stated there and then that a system was going to be put in place following the election that would make it impossible to drive an articulated wagon from the A19 end of Blakey Lane down to where it narrows and then almost prohibits the drivers of the vehicles from reversing back down the lane before demolishing part of the bridge.(People blame the drivers but the sign states the available width is 9 feet and most if not all articulated wagons can get through that width.)

Well last week was the latest instalment in the never-ending story of Blakey Bridge (and we all knock it down) and still we await this great scheme to prevent this happening, at considerable inconvenience to the people who use the lane to access the A19 to York and Teesside.

Your idea sounded reasonable to me, Coun Robbson, so why has it not been implemented? Will other councillors who have no idea of the problem not sanction it, or has it been forgotten about again?

MALCOLM PARNABY

Blakey Close,

Sowerby.

Vote for the mill

Sir, - Such wonderful news that Gayle Mill in Wensleydale has won the local heat in the BBC's Restoration programme.

The fact that so many people have been able to support and vote for this unique building at all is down to the perseverance, patience and vision of one man.

Brian Alderson, the last member of his family to own the mill spent 16 years trying to find a suitable and sympathetic buyer. Over those years many people trod a well worn path to his cottage with all sorts of ideas, only to fall away into the black hole of oblivion.

Brian stuck to his guns determined that this fabulous reminder of our industrial heritage would not be turned into yet more holiday flats (heaven forbid) or some huge commercial enterprise. A less scrupulous person would have long ago taken the money and rested on their laurels.

The eventual saviour was the North East Civic Trust. I am sure we all wish them well in restoring the mill sympathetically so that many generations to come will marvel at how this 18th century building was at the forefront of technology tucked away in this tiny corner of rural England.

I do hope Brian fulfils his dream of once again being able to see electric light flooding out across the dale from the mill's windows lit solely by the water system.

Please vote for Gayle Mill in the final of Restoration on Sunday, August 8.

LOUISE GRAYDON

L'espec Street,

Northallerton.

It's our job

Sir, - With regards to all the letters regarding dog fouling in Richmond, I am one of the grounds maintenance team and asked to do the training to issue fixed penalty tickets.

I do wear a uniform and I do carry an ID card which is given to any alleged offender to read.

If any of the people that have written in would like to come and spend a day strimming and grass cutting with us, they will then find out why we took this job on. If you strim a pile of dog excreta it goes everywhere and I mean everwhere. We have to then put up with the smell we finish work. We have to clean our clothes nearly everyday.

It was stated in one letter that the dog warden "pounced on me". This we do not do. In accordance with our training we watch any offender, approach them and explain why we have stopped them.

We take them back to the place the offences took place. The offender can then accept the fixed penalty ticket or contest the offence ,which can lead to a court summons and a fine of up to £1,000.

We are not out to make money, and we don't get rewards for this work . We want to make sure that dog owners do clean up after their dogs and help keep open spaces and recreation areas clean for everyone to enjoy.

TOM HENRY

Meadowfield Road,

Colburn.

Fantastic camp

Sir, - I am delighted to report that scouting is alive and well in North Yorkshire, as demonstrated by the annual week-long Tookay camp which took place at Ripley Castle.

The camp was really fantastic for the young boys and girls who had the chance to try activities they would not normally be able to, such as climbing, and sub aqua, bricklaying and pioneering.

My thanks goes to those who gave their valuable time to plan and organise the camp, as well as all 200 of the adult leaders and helpers.

All the volunteers deserve medals. I am sure I speak for other parents whose children attended in saying thank you for all your efforts. Iit is much appreciated.

CAROLINE NICHOLLS

Sutton under Whitestonecliffe,

Thirsk.

Native display

Sir, - I read an account of Thirsk Council being under attack from a member of Thirsk in Bloom concerning the state of the White Mare roundabout (D&S, July 23).

I passed it today and I was delighted to see a wonderful display of our native cornfield daisies and poppies there.

Many of our indigenous wildflowers are now either extinct or rare. Let us enjoy the ones we have and which support our native wildlife. Sadly the Fl hybrids and some other plants in our gardens do not.

For those who are interested there is a project to save our cornfield flowers which may be visited at Ryedale Folk Museum at Hutton le Hole.

D GILRUTH

End Cottage,

Wass