Turn it off!

This, I understand, is due to our demand for electricity and the likely inability of the generators to meet that demand.

We have partly brought this on ourselves by demanding ever cheaper power and more of it. We know that Nuclear Electric is struggling financially so we cannot count on that source of power, and, of course, in the not too distant future all our nuclear power stations will have come to the end of their lives and be shut down.

The other power generators are not having a wonderful time either for the same financial reasons. We can, of course, relieve that situation somewhat by various means, not the least of which is to turn it off when we are not using it. That also goes for gas as well.

No need to leave the TV on stand-by, turn it off when not watching a specific programme. Turn off lights in areas not in use, use low power bulbs. Turn off the computer and printer and any other computer equipment.

I see that Coun Tony Hall, the Mayor of Northallerton, is encouraging people to decorate the outside of their houses with Christmas lights for a competition. Not only is this going to increase demand for power, it is also going to increase light pollution for the neighbours.

The mayor should investigate the delicate supply conditions for Northallerton. Why do we have power cuts at the slightest hint of a thunderstorm? I notice also that Northallerton Town Council is planning to spend money on some new Christmas lights for the town centre. I hope they buy good quality lights that do not demand too much power, then people can switch off the lights at home and come to town to see the lights.

Too naive and simple and perhaps killjoy on my part?

Northallerton Rugby Club has installed new lights for training. Quite often there is nobody on the pitch when the lights are on, and those lights illuminate half of Brompton. Light pollution on a big scale, and it must be costing them a mint.

Coun Hall would be better off jumping on the bandwagon of encouraging us to turn it off, not on!

We do not have any power generation in our vicinity. Yet. Will people agree to have wind turbines around Northallerton? They are not far away now just, outside Hartlepool, so it will not be long before they get here. Will we have Nimby rows in this and other papers? We should learn to live with just a little less power.

Come on councillor - turn it off.

C D KIRK

Danes Crest,

Brompton,

Northallerton.

Rats issue

Sir, - What is going on? Richmondshire District Council, are you there? It is the year 2003, not 1803. Then open sewers were the norm and household waste was thrown into the streets: and there were rats.

Now, in 2003, we have the most efficient sewage system in the world alongside the most expensive refuse collection system in the world and what do we have - rats.

I can not believe you can't see this is a growing problem, these nasty, filthy, disease-spreading creatures are public enemy number one. No-one knowingly gets them, they get you. So come on, find the funding - now.

People should be encouraged to report sightings and you must act on information received immediately. Remember this, a dead one today is 12 fewer in three months time.

MALCOLM H PEACOCK

Ash Tree Road,

Bedale.

By George

Sir, - Renaming Teesside Airport Durham-Tees Valley will bring no benefit to the airport whatsoever.

As Margaret Cave points out (D&S, Oct 31), re-branding can be a very confusing game. The Royal Mail's Consignia experiment verified that, and while agreeing with your leading article that first-class services will contribute more to success than branding, I still think an appropriate name has its appeal and needs to attract users before the services have been sampled.

Personally named ones can be very attractive. The Charles-de-Gaulle and New York's Kennedy to name but two. Of all the suggestions that I've seen, The George Stephenson is the outstanding one, it is appropriate and sounds right and it would pay tribute to a man well worthy of the honour.

DOUGLAS PUNCHARD

Keldholme,

Kirkbymoorside.

Pathetic answer

Sir, - I read that the councillors of Harrogate had asked the chief constable to attend a meeting with them to discuss various matters, as the previous chief constable had done.

The chief constable said she could not attend because of "constitutional reasons," that is, she may not be able to answer some of the questions which may be put to her.

What a pathetic answer. This could have been her chance to explain to councillors what the police are doing, why there is a lack of police foot patrols, what she is doing with the extra money she has been given.

This could have been passed on to the people of Harrogate who would then, perhaps, have been more in the picture about what the police are not doing.

Perhaps a member of the county council's "yes men/women" committee, sorry, the police authority, would like to go to Harrogate and do some explaining for the county council, after all, they approve everything they are asked to.

She could even explain to the people of Thirsk why a "drop in centre" has been opened, at great cost to the taxpayer, when there is a perfectly good one called Thirsk police station.

Surely, the money could have been better spent elsewhere?

On local radio a few weeks ago, someone rang in and said they had sighted a police officer in their village. They asked the officer if he was lost.

P WEAVER

The Maltings,

Sowerby,

Thirsk.