Sir, - We write to express our concern over a growing threat to one of Britain's most precious national treasures, the North York Moors National Park. This is a site of extraordinary natural beauty, environmental significance and historical importance, rich in the relics of past generations, from drovers' roads and ancient castles to the world-famous ruins of Rievaulx Abbey. Damage to this precious park is not merely a matter of concern to local residents. It is a loss to the nation as a whole.

Today, the safety, beauty and peace of the Park is being destroyed by a comparatively new phenomenon: large numbers of speeding bikers, often riding in packs, many of whom travel from great distances to use the roads across the park as a lethal race track, racing at reported speeds of up to 180mph.

Visitors from all over Britain come to the Park. Not only is their enjoyment of its peace and beauty being undermined, but they themselves are being put at risk. Lethal crashes and serious accidents have become commonplace. Death and injury to the bikers themselves is unavoidable, but, tragically, innocent drivers and pedestrians (both residents and visitors) can be victims of this criminal madness.

Environmental damage is also unavoidable, with a real threat to wildlife habitats. Deer and other animals crossing the Park road, for example, are constantly at hazard, while noise pollution has become a significant factor in the Park, with a high proportion of the motorbikes illegally modified to maximise engine roar. For the local community there is also an economic price to pay, as visitors, shaken by the sheer number and speed of the bike gangs leave, never to return

Last year an action group, Bilsdale Against Noise and Danger (BAND), was formed to address these pressing issues on perhaps the most significant road in the park, the B1257, running from Helmsley to Stokesley. While BAND is not against bikers, it is strongly against those who use this road as a lethal racetrack. The dangers and environmental damage caused by bikers are also seriously compounded by the growing number of heavy commercial vehicles who have identified the road across the national park as a shortcut to and from the North.

We would like to record our support for this community campaign, and call on the authorities to act now as a matter of urgency to meet BAND's five principal demands. These are:

1) To reduce the speed limit to a maximum of 50 mph on all roads within the North Yorkshire Moors National Park

2) To seek a significant enhancement of traffic police presence and road safety enforcement on the B1257

3) To seek the introduction of speed cameras on the B1257

4) To seek police action against illegal noise pollution by motorbikes within the North Yorkshire Moors National Park

5) To reduce the volume of Heavy Commercial Vehicles transiting the Park

RICHARD ALLAN MP, DAVID ANDREWS, PETER BEAUMONT, JACK BERRY MBE, BRIAN BLESSED, DAVID BOWE MEP, Mr and Mrs GEOFFREY BOYCOTT, ARTHUR BUTTERWORTH, Dame ANTONIA (A.S.) BYATT, ROBIN COMPTON, RICHARD CORBETT MEP, IAN CURTEIS, Rt Hon the Lord PETER FEVERSHAM, JAMES (JIMMY) FITZGERALD, STEVE GIBSON, Sir BEN GILL, Sir DAVID GOODALL, JOHN GREENWAY MP, Rt Rev. AMBROSE GRIFFITHS, Rt Hon WILLIAM HAGUE MP, Sir BERNARD INGHAM, ALICE MAHON MP, EDWARD MCMILLAN-SCOTT MEP, Prof DAVID MOODY, Coun CHRISTOPHER PARKIN Coun BOB PENDLEBURY, Coun MICHAEL RICHARDSON, Lord (BRIAN) RIX, PATRICK STEWART, JANET STREET-PORTER ALAN TITCHMARSH MBE, FRED TRUEMAN, ZOE WANAMAKER, Canon GLYN WEBSTER, Coun RICHARD MURRAY WELLS, Rt Rev TIMOTHY WRIGHT

Radar volunteer

Sir, - Once again the dreaded motorcycle season is upon us again.

We have just purchased a B&B in the pretty village of Aysgarth. Our establishment is on the A684 opposite the George & Dragon public house. We have a 90-degree turn right outside.

Why do these motorcyclists think it great sport to open up the throttle coming out of the right-angle turn and speed up the road and, naturally, breaking the 30 mph speed limit?

Surely there should be some restriction on these pests. I did read in last weeks D&S that the police were going to crack down on these pests, but is that just talk for the newspapers?

I would willingly volunteer to the police to take a course in using a radar gun with a camera and set up shop in our establishment's window and get the wrong doers on camera and booked for speeding.

The noise is also very tiresome, surely there is a limit as to the amount of decibels one puts up with? Mind you, I have picked out motorcyclists in particular, but the "Sporty White Van Man" , plus a small contingent of motor vehicle drivers are also a speeding nuisance during the week.

I might as well go whole hog and ask the question, "Why do we have double white lines on Yorkshire dales roads, when coaches, trucks etc straddle the double white line?" It beats me. If we did that and a police vehicle saw us we would be booked for sure.

DAVID POWELL

Aysgarth