Positive action

But, while we all wait for our own, and other governments to do something about this major anomaly, perhaps there is actually something positive which each of us could do.

It has been calculated that the theoretical cost per passenger on a long-haul flight for repairing the environmental damage would be around £40 per journey. I am therefore determined that each time I make such a flight in future, I will pay an additional sum of £40 to a charity which I believe is doing an increasing amount both to remedy environmental damage in particular locations around the world, and to bring the possibilities for personal participation to people of all ages, cultures and faiths.

This charity only came into being 20 years ago, at a site on the Algarve in Portugal, where tourist activity was threatening to overrun an important bird migration staging ground.

It has been saved, and since then, similar projects have come into being in many other countries round the world.

Here in Britain, a wild-life protection site and local education initiative are well underway in Southall, near Heathrow. Southall, in addition to receiving much more than its fair share of aircraft pollution, must contain one of the most culturally-diverse communities in the UK.

The charity began life as "A Rocha" (meaning The Rock in Portugese) - but originally with an alternative name, "Christians in Conversation". Now, however, it can claim support from people of many different faiths (or none), all working hard for the same cause.

Its web site (www.arocha.org) provides a great deal more information, but anyone wanting a more personal account of A Rocha's work would be welcome to contact me on 01287 660602.

PETER WOODS

Rosedale Intake,

Danby.

Crossing point

Sir, - Tony Eaton's letter (D&S, Dec 19) about a lack of consultation over the level crossings in Northallerton was a great disappointment.

There have been several open meetings, with plans and people to explain them, in Northallerton over the last two years.

One of these was held by Newcastle University personnel on behalf of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, as part of our campaign to improve traffic round Northallerton.

Work by the university and others has shown that, out of the three crossings, the Low Gates crossing on the Darlington Road, which can be closed for 20 minutes each hour in the daytime, has by far the greatest effect on Northallerton traffic problems.

This is partly because of the nearby junction with the road to Yafforth and the roundabout opposite B&Q. Traffic not infrequently has to wait for two openings of the crossing so bad do the hold-ups become. Imagine what the proposed 50pc increase in rail traffic would do!

The Low Gates crossing also has more closures because passenger trains join the main line before the station and do not affect other crossings. The main reason for the long delays is that railway operating requirements mean that all three crossings have to closed at once before trains enter the system. A bridge at Low Gates would therefore allow much shorter closure times elsewhere approximately halving the time the crossing near county hall would be closed.

CPRE is constantly pressing North Yorkshire County Council, William Hague MP, the Strategic Rail Authority and anyone else we can think of to tackle this problem.

We believe a bridge would be a simple, relatively inexpensive solution to a grave problem and we are bitterly disappointed at the difficulty in obtaining money for it.

DAVID CLARKE

Chairman, Hambleton branch, Campaign to Protect Rural England,

Hutton Rudby.

Public waste

Sir, - Having spoken to many people on the subject, the consensus of opinion regarding Hambleton District Council's spending on the so-called improvements to the Civic Centre at Stone Cross is a complete waste of public money, more especially now we know the future role of HDC is in limbo.

It is to be hoped that councillors will vote on this having full regard for the views of those people who elected them and not necessarily the views of their leaders.

I have read the letter by Coun A Barker (D&S, Dec 12), and the ambiguous statement: "whatever the costs, we are making budget provision within the existing council tax base". Does that mean the council will not dip into reserves to meet a shortfall? Or does that mean the money is already there from 2003/04 budget?

Of course we all know the practice of local government is to break its neck to exhaust budgets completely before the financial year ends. I do not call this behaviour prudent spending. On the contrary I call it wanton waste. The prudent housewife does not spend all the money in her purse just because it is pay day tomorrow.

In the reference to there not being the same outcry if the money was spent on refurbishing a leisure centre, I would suggest there is an outcry but it falls on deaf ears, take a look at the recent fiasco at Hutton Rudby for example.

Recent letters in the D&S clearly show people are fed up with paying for incompetence, and maybe it is time a few did throw in the towel.

ERIC HORNER

Fountains Place,

Northallerton.

Biggles quest

Sir, - I would like to make contact with any readers who have unwanted books by W E Johns.

As a keen collector of W E Johns' titles and other authors who wrote boys adventure stories, I will be pleased to hear from readers.

J Burrows

6 Marney Way

Frinton on Sea, CO13 9NZ