Sir, - Much is being made of the spending power brought into Leyburn by the Dales Festival of Food and Drink. Is this fact or fiction?.

A significant number of exhibitors were not from the Dales, and all exhibitors were selling premium products at premium prices.

Two people wanting to spend five minutes visiting only a quarter of the 50 or so exhibitors needed an hour to get round in comfort.

The 50 stands in the main tent could reasonably accommodate about 100 people an hour. That works out at 750 a day.

Supporters seem to be suggesting between 5,000 and 10,000 a day. It matters little who is right.

Coach operators had noted an exhibition entrance charge about one third of rival attractions. They bussed in those with lower spending power in droves.

Inside was worse than a sardine can full of disillusioned visitors. A reasonable discussion with an exhibitor was impossible.

I gave up after an hour queuing inside, took the addresses of some exhibitors, and later travelled to their premises.

The local traders now the subject of dismissive comment employ over 300 people, making them the largest employer in the area. They have accounts with many businesses up and down Wensleydale.

On the market day after the festival the local chemist was taking over two hours to dispense prescriptions. One supermarket had offered £5 off groceries to locals using the exclusive mid-week park and ride bus and got no takers.

Most of the shopping public had voted with their steering wheels.

Your leading article (D&S, Aug 29), which suggests the festival might consider moving to another town, is intriguing.

Hawes and Middleham market places are small compared to Leyburn.

The Bedale Christmas event being scaled down indicates Bedale tolerates a lot less disruption than Leyburn has so far put up with.

By comparison the Wensleydale show, held a mile out of town ran with negligible disruption, without significant public funding and did the local agricultural image far more good than the festival.

The town council has rightly noted a significant majority of local people do not want a third year of major disruption brought about by the festival.

A move to an out-of-town site could be a first step to regaining the confidence of most local people.

LEONARD SHEPHERD

Ellerclose Road,

Leyburn.

Come together

Sir, - I refer to the recent letters and reports with regard to the Dales Festival of Food and Drink.

Am I the only person who can see a solution to make everyone happy? On August bank holiday weekend I attended the Wensleydale agricultural show held in the new showfield on Bellerby Road. The show was a complete success. It was a fantastic setting, extremely well attended, well organised and a great family day out.

Isn't it time we started to pull together as a community instead of having these little battles going on?

Why don't we put the whole lot together? The Dales Festival of Food and Drink, Wensleydale agricultural show and the farmers' market (which apparently refused to go up to the showfield last Saturday and instead stayed in the market place - more fool them!).

This event could be nationally advertised (as I am sure there would be a larger budget available) and be major event taking place in Wensleydale. Surely everyone would benefit. The town would be busy, but not complete chaos as it has been during the food festival. There could be free transport from the showfield into Leyburn.

Is this not the answer? I agree the organisation would be very complex but if everyone pulls together as a team surely it would work.

Let's stop messing around and let's start working together. After all, I thought that is what we are supposed to do in a small country community.

ALISON PRESTON

Railway Street,

Leyburn.

Right decision

Sir, - Leyburn Town Council is right in its decision not to allow the Dales Festival of Food and Drink to take over the market place for a third year.

Many residents feel unreasonably inconvenienced by the loss of parking spaces and local businesses lose money. The council has a duty to these people as well as to those of us who support the festival.

If the festival is held on the outskirts of town those of us who enjoy this event are free to attend and those who are not so taken with it do not have it imposed on them.

K D SCOTT

Woodburn Drive,

Leyburn