Letters to the Editor

Which are the other 40 North Yorkshire bridges against which EH says the Stokesley bridge has been "reassessed"? Has the reassessment covered all these bridges? If so, has any been downgraded along with Stokesley's bridge? Or has any been upgraded? Names please.

Without this full picture it is impossible to judge whether the de-scheduling of the Stokesley bridge is justified. Yet it is hard to see why the bridge, a link on an ancient route from Ryedale to Durham, once trodden by monks from Rievaulx Abbey, should be ranked lower than other packhorse bridges of historic Cleveland that are also scheduled ancient monuments.

For instance, while the Stokesley bridge retains its cobbles, Danby's Duck Bridge has long been tarmaced. And Westerdale's Hunter's Sty, ponderously over-restored by the Victorian Lord Feversham, bears little resemblance to the authentic article. A precious oddity it may be, but it would strike few as "ancient."

Perhaps Duck Bridge and Hunter's Sty have also been demoted. Since bridges are public buildings that attract great interest and often affection, perhaps English Heritage should be required to publish the results of its reassessment. Certainly this would be welcomed by all who care about the history and environment of North Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, by limiting access to grant aid, the de-scheduling of the Stokesley bridge could threaten the long-term future of this important antiquity.

It seems wrong that decisions of this sort apparently can be taken without local consultation or a proper right of challenge.

HARRY MEAD

Great Broughton,

Stokesley.

Skewed report

Sir, - It was most disappointing to read your skewed report on the Bush visit to Sedgefield (D&S, Nov 28).

Firstly, there were at least 500 demonstrators on the green. Secondly, where was the evidence to support the claim that many of them came from outside the North-East? And why the deprecatory "but some local factions did turn out .... etc".

A whole host of Durham people were there, many as members of groups making very legitimate protests about some of the many appalling aspects of Bush's policies, none of which were mentioned in your report.

I was there representing the Durham branch of Amnesty International. We were focussing on the illegal imprisonment in Guantanamo Bay, in Cuba, by the US of over 700 people including British citizens, many who have been held there, without charge, for over two years, and the conditions under which they are forced to live.

We wore orange boiler suits, facemasks, black tape over our eyes and imitation handcuffs. Next to us was Peace Action Durham, another non-political group, and I heard speeches from a whole spectrum of people with political views stretching from the Liberal Democrats to the radical left and including the Vicar of Sedgefield and Pat McIntyre, founder of Operation Desert Rescue, which focuses-purely on the threat to children posed by the Iraqi war and occupation and enjoys worldwide support, including Nelson Mandela.

As for the anti-climax, yes, it was disappointing not to be closer but many local radio and TV interviews and some newspaper reports, although many were biased and dreadfully sycophantic to the president, allowed us to make our points.

Please do not judge demonstrations on the amount of chanting, numbers etc. but on the points that are being made.

JOHN SEVERS

Hastings Avenue,

Durham City.

Greater summit

Sir, - Just a couple of points with regard to Nicholas Rhea's column (Countryman's Diary, D&S Nov 21).

He mentions Whernside as one of the three peaks. This remark is correct, but the mountain he was referring to in his article was Great Whernside, a truly great mountain far superior to the loftier and uninteresting Whernside of three peaks fame.

A walk to the summit from Nidderdale to admire the view into Wharfedale is a wonderful and unspoilt experience well worth an article in itself, and the view down into Wensleydale and Middleham wonderful.

I may, of course, be wrong and on a clear day in a certain light in a certain position you may well be able to pick out Middleham from the top of Whernside in Ribblesdale, that's if all the tourists don't block the view.

Oh and I think he may be making more of the meaning of 'sholl ower," than is needed. Surely this is "Yorksha" for "shove over."

CHRIS BIGGIN

Low Burton Cottage,

Masham.

Tax fears

Sir, - The branch instructs me to write expressing concern about council tax increases.

We, particularly Richmond members, are bothered by the chief constable requiring another 30pc increase for the running of the county police. The Richmond police station closes at night. Why? Are we now expected to pay more money for less service?

Generally, the method of levying council tax on residents should be changed. It should be collected by councils from those demonstrably able to pay.

Many of our members earn less than £5 per hour. Acute poverty and distress are imposed on many of our members because of the present system.

N S CONNOLLY

Branch Secretary, Transport and General Workers Union, Catterick Garrison.

Sir, - This morning I received North Yorkshire Police Authority briefing sheet 01. Clearly the start of a "softening up" exercise to extract another massive increase from council tax payers. Something I object to most strongly.

As Peter Addinall succinctly states (D&S letters Nov 28), no doubt a water-tight case can be made for another increase for the police.

However, as a pensioner, on a fixed income, I too could produce a water-tight case for an increase, yet suspect I would have less success than the police authority.

Is it not time the argument was directed at the Government which, I understand, is entering into a public consultation exercise.

ALAN CROSSKILL

Doctors Lane,

Hutton Rudby.

Sir, - I understand that a Roman settlement of international significance has been located at Quarry Farm, Ingleby Barwick and that some parts of it have been excavated and an open day has been held/allowed at Portis Bar/The Forum.

I also understand that that may be about as far as further exploration may go, due to the current building work in the area.

Further, some of the Roman area may be not built on but be backfilled and have interpretive notice boards posted for public information.

If the foregoing is substantially correct then it would appear we collectively are essentially just going to bury our heads in the sand and ignore, for all intents and purposes, an incredible resource for our area and all the generations yet, hopefully, to come.

Such a site is a major additional link in our history and, if appropriately researched and developed, could have a huge and continuing influence on the tourism trade locally and be a wonderful educational resource for schools who currently, if they can afford the time and travel costs involved, have to venture to say South Shields, Segadunum, Piercebridge, Corbridge and places further afield to get the awe-factor such visits generate.

I suspect that such a resource would, with time, mesh magnificently with the fabric of our past which many bodies are actively working to weave for better public awareness

Please would you continue to encourage the various parties involved and the public to get this treasure from the past appropriately recognised and developed.

JOHN L TAIT

Egglescliffe.

Safety code

Sir, - Shooting and country sports organisations must be congratulated for the way they have reacted to our safety concerns after a rider and horse were severely injured in an incident last year.

This year's edition of the Code of Good Shooting Practice contains substantial reference to shoots' relationship with riders and wise advice on safety.

Like most things, however, its success depends on co-operation, and, with the shooting season now upon us, riders with shoots nearby would do well to obtain and read the code to see what guidance is being given to guns. They are trying to understand our problems and we should take the trouble to see theirs.

The British Horse Society was consulted about the revised code, but I would still like to hear any views on how it might be improved. Riding and shooting are both country pursuits and the way forward is for both to live side by side.

The Code of Good Shooting Practice may be obtained by sending an sae to: The Secretary, Code of Good Shooting Practice, Marford Mill, Rossett, Wrexham LL12 0HL, or viewed on the British Association for Conservation and Shooting's website: www.basc.org.uk.

SHEILA HARDY

Head of Safety, The British Horse Society,

Kenilworth,

Warwickshire.