Letters: On the map

This was in the early days, when ideas were sought to encourage a tourist trade in Hawes. Well pleased with their evening's cogitations, the outcome observed by the chairman was: "This should put Hawes on the map."

Now that Hawes is on the map, the situation is, dozens of premises - holiday cottages - empty on a regular basis, dedicated to the tourist trade. Local people can't get planning permission.

Over the last five years, professional people who have retired early have surged into the dale, with higher incomes than the local rate, buying properties at inflated prices, so that, overall, house prices are ridiculously high.

My family and I came to Hawes in 1967 as a peaceful small market town, to make it our home for the foreseeable future, and from those determined to "put Hawes on the map" it is an all-year-round cacophonous holiday centre.

For myself, as a householder in Wensleydale for 20 plus years, I am now finding it impossible to acquire a suitable home in Hawes. My young people are happily settled, fortunately, in the area, but my only course of action is to move from the area, looking for less expensive property.

So much for Hawes being on the map.

M C HANNAM

Hillside View,

Gayle,

Hawes.

Seventies thinking

Sir, - Perhaps somewhat predictably I need to take issue with the D&S leading article (Apr 11) on the vexed issue of the East Middlesbrough bypass.

You assume that, echoing another past admirer of the great road economy, "there is no alternative" to the continued use of the private car as a commuter vehicle. I hate to be slightly smug, but I have to point out that if the editor visited British cities, towns and suburbs like Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Croydon - not to mention the Tyneside conurbation - he would see that alternative in the shape of light rail and metro systems, and very popular it is too.

The idea is not rocket science - just a recognition of the fact that we cannot keep ploughing up green fields and demolishing houses to make yet more room for the sacred metal box.

I believe that the commuter traffic flows from the south of Middlesbrough through to that town and beyond are ideally suited to an express rail option given the existing core rail line, a line which has the room and ability to be dramatically upgraded as part of a network linking the commuter suburbs of Guisborough and Nunthorpe with the James Cook Hospital, Middlehaven and the Riverside Stadium and Middlesbrough town centre.

On the same principle, a western arm could link Middlesbrough with Teesdale, Teesside Park, Stockton town centre, Teesside Airport and Darlington station and town centre. This would bring fast, non-polluting and frequent transport linking the places where people live with the places where people work, shop and play. Others have discovered this; so why can't we ?

The alternative - yet more road building - is from the same school of thought that bought us land-grubbing dual carriageways, decaying concrete shopping precincts and high rise living.

Can we please bury this last vestige of Seventies thinking ?

Coun DAVID WALSH

Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council.

It beggars belief

Sir, - I recently received the Richmondshire District Council tax demand informing me that it has been increased by 15.9pc for the 2003-4.

For the 1996-7 year it was £584, for 2003-4 it is to be £1,138. For this period of eight years the average rise is 12.5pc.

Being a humble tax payer, I am obviously incapable of comprehending this style of accounting. My thoughts go something like this:

"If you take away all your expenditure for the year from all your income the result would be a balance showing a profit (good housekeeping) or a loss. The loss should, in the main, reflect inflation, which is recognisable when matched with the national trend. On the basis that one's last year's accounting showed adjustments for new projects, improvements and so on, this inflation figure should approximate with national inflation."

I am at a total loss as to how our money has been used in this profligate manner, an average of 12.5pc over this period is, in my opinion, scandalous. There is something seriously wrong in the whole local council set-up and I list below those items which cause me great concern:

* Lowering standards of cleanliness;

l Cars parked on pavements causing hazards to pedestrians and costly damage to pavements. This occurs because of a virtual total absence of wardens (Richmond appears to have one twice a week);

l Shops left empty for years;

l Richmond Garden Centre, the most popular and efficiently-run store in the town, forced to close by the council, with the resulting loss of rates and rent for the past two years, plus the loss of jobs for their most efficient staff, and, to the ratepayer, the loss of a well-used facility. It beggars belief;

l Vandalism and rubbish continue unabated, the park which houses the Garrison church at Scotton is a prime example of vandalism.

I do not think that this council is unique; they all seem to have their problems, but there does seem to be deeply embedded problem which I could not solve.

Perhaps someone could write some lyrics, borrow Gilbert and Sullivan's music and write an operetta. You never know, it might make some money, but if this council does it, it would no doubt make a thundering loss.

C W O'LOUGHLIN

Scotton.

Tax points

Sir, - Richmondshire District Council is required by law to collect council tax on behalf of North Yorkshire County Council, North Yorkshire Police Authority and local town and parish councils as well as its own share of the total bill.

The combined bill for 2003-4 shows an overall increase of 16.4pc compared with the previous year's bill. However, the actual increase in council tax for Richmondshire District Council is 4.5pc or £6.53 for a Band D property.

It is perhaps interesting to note that the average council tax bill for taxpayers is £1,125, and that Richmondshire District Council only receives £152 of this.

Following recent changes in the way in which council tax bills are produced, taxpayers can see for themselves the individual percentage increases for each of the organisations that the council collects council tax on behalf of. It is hoped that this provides clarity to the scale in which organisations have contributed to the overall council tax increase.

MARTIN DRYDALE

Financial unit manager,

Richmondshire District Council,

Votes needed

Sir, - Looking at the list of nominations for Hambleton Council elections, it is gratifying to note that a number of Conservative councillors have been returned unopposed, no doubt a real vote of confidence in the work they have done in their wards over the years.

However, I would like to point out that in Topcliffe ward, there will, in fact, be an election, contrary to your report, where the sitting councillor, Neville Huxtable, will be working hard to defend his seat.

I am sure you will agree that we want to see as many people as possible taking part in the democratic process on May 1, and I would hate the people in the Topcliffe ward to stay at home thinking they did not need to vote.

DIANE CLARKE

Agent for the Vale of York Conservative Association.