Sir, - I am writing as a member of Yorkshire Dales Autograss Club. I have been a member of this club for 21 years, since the age of 14. Autograss racing is a sport for the whole family, I race, my wife races and two of my children race who are aged 13 and 14. The children love it, they spend numerous weekends preparing their cars ready for racing on the 13 race dates during the year. It gives the children an interest and something to do on a weekend.

After reading the comments in last week's D&S , I was somewhat downhearted at the parish meeting's desire to shut down the club completely.

The club is run entirely by volunteers, it is not for profit and is certainly not "another Croft Circuit". I don't think you will ever see touring cars, rally cross cars or British superbikes racing around the field at Kiplin, along with the thousands of spectators that support them.

As for the road safety issue, the club has been racing at its current venue for over 10 years and there has never been one accident I am aware of.

As for the other issues the residents have regarding noise and dust, the club noise test every car prior to racing to ensure that noise levels are within acceptable limits, and a water cart is used frequently on the race track to keep dust at a minimum.

The racing is only held on 13 days out of 365 a year. It certainly is not an increasingly popular sport as the parish meeting is suggesting.

Many local people put a lot of effort into running the club to ensure the enjoyment of the whole family and all of this work is unpaid.

It would be a sad loss if this club were to close. I know my children will be deeply upset if they are unable to race anymore.

The Yorkshire Dales Autograss Club makes every effort to comply with any restriction imposed and ensures that any disruption that may occur to the residents of Kiplin is kept to an absolute minimum. I think it is a real shame that Kiplin Parish Meeting is not prepared to negotiate and seems intent only on closing our club down.

I would like to urge your readers to please help save our club by writing a letter of support to Richmondshire District Council.

KEVIN BOWES AND

FAMILY

Brompton Park,

Brompton On Swale.

Mud sticks

Sir, - I feel I cannot let the letter from Mr Sampson about the planning application for retention of the existing autograss racing at Kiplin (D&S, May 14) go unanswered.

Although we sometimes race in the mud, it does not leave the same taste in your mouth when it's thrown at you. Some villagers must think if they throw enough mud some will stick.

Yorkshire Dales Autograss Club, (formerly Catterick & Leyburn, and Hawes & District) have raced at various venues in the Richmondshire area, for over 25 years with very little in the way of complaints.

When we re formed into the Yorkshire Dales Club in 1993, a new venue was needed, the land at Kiplin was offered to us by the land owner Mr G Barker.

Being the responsible club we are, we sent letters to the nearest houses explaining who we were, and what we were doing. If they had any questions or queries there was a contact number on the letter. We had a nil response.

After the first few meetings the villagers made complaints to Hambleton Council regarding noise, they then did numerous noise evaluations which deemed we were not causing a statutory noise nuisance.

At that time we agreed with both councils a voluntary code of conduct.

We were then later informed by RDC we needed to apply for planning permission, which we did in 1994. There were some objections but the councillors decided to grant us a three-year temporary permission.

We reapplied in 1997, 2000, and 2003, without any objections about noise or dust. Further the last recorded complaint about noise or dust was back in 1999.and the one before that was in 1996.

Having raced at the venue for over 10 years we are now entitled to apply for a certificate of lawful use.

The club has less club members now than in 1994, 94 members to date, and not all those race either. We have never held more than 13 meetings per year, often less than that. We do not envisage any major expansion of activities.

Yorkshire Dales Autograss Club is an amateur club run in a professional manner by family members from Yorkshire and surrounding areas.

All we have asked is for permanent planning permission instead of temporary. If any readers wish to support our cause, please write to Mr P Featherstone, Planning & Development Officer, Springwell House, Richmond, N Yorks DL10 4JG

ROGER GILL

President, Yorkshire Dales Autograss Club

Askham Lane,

Acomb,

York.