Sir, - At the beginning of this year I wrote to the D&S asking for views about the Black Swan crossing on the A19 following the death of a close relative, Moira Gray, and family friend, Tony Elton, at the crossing last August, only five minutes after leaving a lovely family occasion.

Maybe not surprisingly, many e-mails and letters received confirmed opinions about the dangers of this crossing and that it should be closed.

Our family wrote to the Highways Agency copying letters to Parliament and MPs and anybody else who would listen, asking just how many more accidents and fatalities it would need for proper measures be taken.

I am pleased that the Black Swan crossing is to be closed and make no apologies about it, it has been a dangerous crossing for a long time, and since the deaths of Moira and Tony, there has been one further fatality, numerous shunts and bumps and two accidents with cars involved being insurance write-offs.

The A19 is an important busy trunk road, and the Black Swan junction was just too dangerous for fast-flowing traffic, and the plan to close the 21 gaps between the Tontine and Crathorne is also welcome.

I know it will cause an inconvenience, mainly from the Rountons side, but safety should be first over convenience. Many concerned bodies have tried to do something about the crossing and their efforts are to be commended, but in the end because no decision was made, the status quo was left and the accidents and fatalities continued.

Also I felt the police were never interested in the 50mph scheme, the local authority was protecting its budget and not too keen on updating and improving local alternative routes. The Highways Agency is to be commended for taking the decision to close the crossing, but it is also looking no further than closing the crossing and placing signs.

At least now with the crossings closed, all interested parties should be glad that this notorious crossing will not be claiming any further lives. We now should concentrate on what we want for the future. Personally, I want to see an improvement in the service of local roads - the Hutton Rudby alternative route, officially signposted from the Tontine, is a case in point.

We are routed up the A172, the Hutton Rudby turn-off from the A172 is badly marked, and the road is not suitable for heavy traffic with tight bends and a blind summit.

Similar difficulties are encountered on the Rountons side. With the Black Swan crossing and other central gaps closed, the council should be committed to improving these back lanes.

We should now concentrate on campaigning for a bridge, even if only an agricultural bridge, to connect the two communities. If there was ever a case for a bridge, the Black Swan crossing would be first priority. Maybe interested readers would be able to explain why Crathorne had an agricultural bridge when the A19 was built, even though there is a north/south junction within -mile. The community here was well-served by the influence of local people.

It was a shame that the more dangerous crossing at Black Swan was not also well-served at this time.

For the present, communities should now accept that the price of keeping the Black Swan crossing open was just too high a price to pay, it certainly was for our family. The price paid should also mean that a safe, convenient way of connecting two successful communities should now be addressed with a promise of a bridge in the near future.

On the day the Black Swan crossing is to be officially closed, and this section of the A19 will be closed to traffic, on Monday, July 19, from 8pm, our family will take flowers to place on the central reservation and pay our respects to Moira and Tony - it is almost a year since their accident - and remember those who have died at this crossing.

JULIE HAUSERMAN & ROBERT SIMPSON

Hutton Rudby.

Poor partners

Sir, - I feel compelled to write to express my disappointment in the community group, the Two Dales Partnership. I am a volunteer driver for the transport project and I also use the minibus on a regular basis with a group of friends. It has come to my attention recently that some members of the 2DP are wanting to pull the plug on this very necessary service.

The transport project was initially set up to complement the bus service and prevent people becoming socially excluded because of lack of access to affordable public transport in this largely rural area. The local public transport service is heavily subsidised as there just are not enough people to use it to make a profit.

Since the beginning, the emphasis for the 2DP transport project has been on providing a service rather than profit-making. This objective has been achieved and due to the hard work of the co-ordinator, and the paid driver, usage has gradually increased.

I was appalled lately to discover that the board of the 2DP was considering axing the scheme, citing the lack of money left from funding as their main reason. As if this is not bad enough, the 2DP has not even bothered to consult the community or the "lesser-ranking" group of members whom they supposedly are acting on behalf of.

Hardly any of the board uses the minibus, or has introduced new users, and none of them are involved in the day-to-day running and driving. Some of them are unaware of the duties carried out by the co-ordinator.

With regard to the meeting to decide the fate of the project, they had not even invited the co-ordinator or driver of the project, despite their obvious involvement.

When put to the vote, one member abstained and since then it has emerged that he is hoping to get an award for his involvement in the project! Personally I think this is more than cheeky. The group, as a whole, has not helped or supported the co-ordinator in her uphill struggle - then one committee member has the audacity to try to take the credit and praise as well. I doubt, if the scheme had failed, the board would be quite as eager to take the blame!

SHIRLEY ATKINS

Fremington.

Double gain

Sir, - Many of your readers will have an old mobile phone or printer cartridge tucked away in a drawer at home or at work. What they may not realise is that their unwanted items can benefit the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

Old mobiles and empty printer cartridges can be recycled and the proceeds used to help fund vital research into the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer as well as providing support for sufferers and their families.

But that's not all. Recycling is environmentally friendly too (mobile phones and printer cartridges take hundreds of years to biodegrade). So you can help the earth and support a very worthwhile cause too.

Please help us continue our vital work by donating old printer cartridges and mobile phones from home and work. For details, call 08712 505050, visit our web site www.recyclingappeal.com/roycastle, or drop your unwanted items in the post to: Roy Castle Recycling Appeal (EL), 31-37 Etna Road, Falkirk FK2 9EG.

JANINE DREW

Fundraising manager,

Roy Castle Lung Cancer

Foundation

Liverpool