Sir, - It's that time of year when the usual suspects start calling for Yarm fair to be moved from the High Street.

As a newly elected councillor on Yarm Town Council, my passion for maintaining the fair in the High Street has only deepened. I am most concerned at the real agenda of those who would have it moved, and wonder whether they speak for anyone other than themselves.

Speaking personally, the fair is a tribute to the traditions of our town. Yes, it has changed over the centuries, but it has little changed over the last few decades - a wonderful family occasion, attacked no doubt by those who do not take part.

As for the businesses of Yarm, whilst they may be central - in part - to the town's prosperity, the last few years have seen large numbers of new and existing businesses move to or expand in Yarm. Has the presence of the fair put them off coming or staying here? Of course not. To imply otherwise is lunacy,

If some of our businesses do see a slowdown during fair week, (which I find hard to believe, and know is not the case for many), then they've got the other 51 weeks to go at.

In my view it is some of the businesses in the town who should take responsibility for creating our traffic problems in the first place, as they have expanded with more regard to profit than to the good of Yarm and what the people want.

The fair certainly hasn't put people off moving to Yarm -just look at our house prices. I wonder of the minority who would like the fair moved, how many have any history or background in Yarm. More a case of "not in my backyard" perhaps?

As for the Saturday road closure - approximately 20 minutes or so - this is entirely sensible. It provides added safety whilst one of the most traditional aspects of the fair, the "flashing of the horses" takes place.

To those who would like to see the fair moved my question is a simple one - why not move yourselves?

Coun SIMON TRANTER

Bulmer Close,

Yarm.

Sir, - You can tell the time of the year or the date of a particular event by certain regular happenings. At Christmas time you get the small tangerines at a cheap price, you see more nuts for sale. Easter time you naturally see chocolate eggs in the shops. In mid-October you see the annual bleating by the Yarm Chamber of Commerce, whinging about the annual fair!

Yarm has developed tremendously in the past 10 years with residential housing and has featured in many a Southern magazine article or newspaper report extolling the virtues of the area. And rightly so I am sure many would agree.

Unfortunately certain traders in the town have selective memories and choose not to appreciate that the annual fair, ongoing for 900 years, is part of Yarm traditions and values. We should retain our local heritage not destroy it or devalue it.

In nearby Middlesbrough there is a tremendous local campaign to save and preserve the North Riding Infirmary, and that building is only a comparatively recent building compared to the fair.

At Yarm Fair you will see families strolling along the High Street, young children excited by the bright lights, the smells, the noises. It is an excellent opportunity for people to come into contact with travelling folk and witness their lifestyles and traditions.

If traders do not wish to open their doors it is an excellent time to stock-take or give their tired staff or themselves a well-earned holiday before the Christmas season is upon them.

I'm sure that the chamber of commerce would appreciate these good points about the fair, rather than appearing to be only interested in profits.

The fair is only there for five nights out of 365 days in the year, 1.3pc of the year. I fully agree with David Rigg, the local butcher of the town who has positive views of the ancient gathering.

Let us all enjoy the marvellous event, and welcome the visitors with open arms. To the whingers about the fair, to quote Charles Dickens: "Bah humbug, bah humbug."

GORDON HOWES

Stockton on Tees.