£15,000 wasted

At the council meeting called to discuss budget proposals for the coming year, I and others sat and listened in amazement to a list of statements and reports from the deputy leader of the council clearly indicating that the information provided to the community committee less than six week ago was more than a little incomplete and inaccurate.

It now transpires that the council simply needed to keep the Richmond Sports Centre facilities open for a further six months (cost £15,000) so that the dual-use facilities could come on-line at Richmond School.

Question: How much has the council spent trying to convince the world that it is right? (All those letters to be answered by senior officers, all the meetings to attend, all the practical help offered to transfer classes from Richmond to Colburn and Brompton etc).

I firmly believe that if the district council was to cost this exercise using the same criteria used to calculate the costs attributed to one taxpayer in Leyburn then we will find that this council has probably spent £15,000 trying to convince us that the centre should close. £15,000 is the sum required to keep it open!

When will the ruling majority finally admit it got this one wrong? When will it apologise for such serious mismanagement?

I tried to get an amendment accepted which would have seen the council allocate £15,000 from the funds ring-fenced for dual-use provision. This money comes from the sale of council-owned land on Gallowgate and was originally allocated for dual-use facilities in Richmond. This was then expanded to include Hipswell and Wensleydale and has yet again been modified to cover the Garrison, Wensleydale and then Richmond!

This small amount of money could easily be replenished from the interest earned on the dual-use funds sitting in the council accounts.

My simple, inexpensive suggestion was thrown out by the ruling majority - logic and common sense are certainly not on the agenda of the Conservative and the RAIC ruling groups.

This decision is wrong, unjustifiable and immoral - it also goes against the council's Community Strategy (page 13, Safe and Healthy). I would urge all taxpayers in Richmond to contact the local Ombudsman - I firmly believe that RDC is guilty of maladministration and incompetence in this matter.

Please act to save the sports centre in Richmond and to protect all leisure provision in Richmondshire for the future.

Coun STUART PARSONS

Mayor of Richmond,

Town Hall,

Richmond.

Community second

Sir, - In Richmondshire District Council's Council Plan it states that to improve in the future it will "put the community first, put the customer first and have a well-managed council". What elements of this were used in the decision to close Richmond Sports Centre before alternative dual-use facilities were available?

At the council meeting on February 24 it was stated that the information regarding costs relating to the closure, which was given to the community committee and the number of user groups, was not the same. Well managed?

There appears to have been little effort made to investigate the attitude of user groups and or partners to increase revenue. Well managed?

What consideration was given to the 80 members of the public who wrote asking for the facility not to be closed? Customer first?

What emphasis was placed on the council's adopted theme of safe and healthy? In the Community Strategy produced by the local strategic partnership - of which the council is a key partner - it says: "Ensuring that everyone has adequate access to sporting facilities is essential for ensuring the health and wellbeing of the population". Community first?

The community and the customer have been put into second place by the delivery of a second rate decision.

Richmondshire District Council - Better by Miles?

Coun LINDA CURRAN

Wellington Place,

Richmond.

Intrusive CCTV

Sir, - I refer to the report headlined "Town takes loan of CCTV cameras for three months" (D&S, Feb 20).

Again I feel moved to comment on this subject in Barnard Castle, where apparently two cameras have been placed covertly in the town centre for this period.

It appears that in order to catch petty vandals, perfectly honest people will have their movements observed by some faceless individual watching a screen somewhere.

A police representative is quoted as saying that he was "aware of the demand for a permanent CCTV system in Barnard Castle."

Aware of demand? By whom?

I suspect there is little or no demand for this intrusive nonsense: it is merely an easy option for the authorities.

They are neither needed nor wanted in this beautiful market town in Teesdale, one of the most tranquil places in England.

J T KING

Snackgate Lane,

Heighington.

Walk thanks

Sir, - Barnard Castle Dog Training Club would like to thank all the people who turned out to walk on Sunday, February 15, at Raby Castle. So far we have raised £2,500.

There is still some sponsor money to come in and people are reminded that to qualify for the prizes for the most money raised, they must remit before March 15.

We would also like to thank Lord Barnard and Raby Castle staff for their assistance and all our stewards for their hard work.

Thanks also to the charities that will benefit, Save our Strays, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and Riding for the Disabled who turned up to raise money by walking. Last, but not least, thanks to Century Radio for all the publicity.

ANNE SPIBY & KATHRYN HARRIS

Walk organisers,

Barnard Castle.

For cancer care

Sir, - I would like to extend thanks to Addison's Auctioneers in Barnard Castle for hosting a fine art and antiques auction in association with Marie Curie Cancer Care.

A charity preview night held on Wednesday of last week raised the magnificent sum of £810, which included entry fees and proceeds from a raffle. I would also like to thank Addison's for putting on lots of nice things to eat and drink.

Last week was an excellent week for Marie Curie as I was also invited to pick up a cheque for £650 from the Three Tuns at Eggleston following a charity event there.

Thank you to all who involved and all who attended the events.

VIRGINIA TROTTER

County patron, Marie Curie Cancer Care,

Staindrop.