Letters: Farmers' market

It is a shame your readers could not see the full banner featured on the front page of the D&S (Mar 28). The parts not shown were the Hambleton and Defra logos on a banner sourced and paid for by the district council to promote the markets, in addition to the advertising already done at no cost to the farmers themselves.

The suggestion to move Northallerton farmers' market to the High Street is a good one. It is something the cabinet has supported from day one, but has not been able to achieve because of the size of the market and traffic management issues.

Ironically, the call-in of the cabinet decision to try to achieve this by, among others Coun Dobson, who was one of those featured in your photo, led to further delay. A compromise appears to be in sight, but there will need to be consultation. To satisfy the farmers' market requirements, we will have to displace prime car parking spaces and the taxi rank.

I wish farmers' markets success as there is no lack of support to find the right solutions which address the competing claims placed upon us.

Coun DAVID A WEBSTER

Cabinet spokesman for environmental health and housing.

Hambleton District Council,

Northallerton.

Price of protest

Sir, - It has recently been revealed that the police precept for North Yorkshire is the highest of all the shires. No reasonable explanation has been offered. However, after Saturday, April 5, the explanation has become suddenly very clear to me.

I attended a small demonstration at RAF (US) Fylingdales of about 40 peaceful people who had come to walk the footpaths and display banners at the gate in a symbolic gesture to reclaim the American base and the many hundreds of acres of MoD land. Although there were only 40 or less protesters present, there seemed to be hundreds of police personnel with large expensive Range Rovers (engines continuously running), flashing noisy motorbikes, dog patrols, foot patrols, saloon cars, marksmen carrying guns, the list goes on.

Ordinary car drivers were harassed and questioned for their details, the protesters were penned into corrals; altogether a huge and largely unnecessary operation. There appeared to be the same level of security at Menwith Hill as I drove past though, as far as I was aware, no protest was scheduled for that venue.

Because of their remoteness, Fylingdales and Menwith never attract large numbers of protesters, particularly Fylingdales.

In striking contrast, a few weeks ago a companion and myself spent 7 hours "exploring" RAF Leeming, completely undisturbed for the whole of that time, no dog patrols, no marksmen, no MoD police, no security to speak of, just one very surprised civilian pilot and eventually one RAF police officer who seemed not to know what to do with us.

Could it be that it is becoming very expensive for North Yorkshire to have to police, not one or two American (in all but name) military bases? Are we, the North Yorkshire Council taxpayers, paying heavily for the security of secretive unaccountable American bases while neglecting our own?

OLIVIA AGATE

Hallams Yard,

Skipton.

Difficult days

Sir, - These are difficult times for our country with many servicemen and women ordinarily based in North Yorkshire engaged in the conflict in Iraq.

I know there are many who would wish that we were not involved in the war. The fact remains that we are and here in North Yorkshire the war is as close to home as it is anywhere in the United Kingdom.

We have the largest garrison in Western Europe at Catterick where some 1,300 men and women are currently serving in the war. We also have the important barracks at Ripon and Topcliffe and the Army Foundation College at Harrogate.

There are the Royal Air Force stations at Leeming and Linton on Ouse, the Army Air Corp at Dishforth Airfield and the Government Communications bases at Fylingdales, Menwith Hill and Staxton Wold.

There are therefore thousands of families here in North Yorkshire directly affected by the conflict. Wherever these families live they are an integral part of our community and an important part of our economy.

Our county has a long and proud association with the Armed Forces and our thoughts and prayers are with them.

County Coun DAVID ASHTON

Chairman, North Yorkshire County Council,

County Hall,

Northallerton.

Careless words

Sir, - Your correspondent Marion Button of Great Ayton (D&S letters, Apr 4) is absolutely right to deplore the silly speculation, ill-informed comment and general pontification from some media people on the campaign in Iraq.

Those who remember the Second World War will recollect that wherever you went in public places you were confronted with notices which read "careless talk costs lives".

Those who seek to write, or babble away, about things of which, in the main, they know nothing, should have those four words drawn firmly to their attention.

Is it not also disgraceful that our troops in the Gulf, who are doing a magnificent job, have seen fit to rename the BBC the Baghdad Broadcasting Corporation because of its continuous churning out of gloomy news about the coalition forces? What is the matter with this country? We should be wholly behind our armed forces at this time, and the media should play its part in boosting their morale at every opportunity, not denigrating their efforts.

ARTHUR BARKER

Startforth,

Barnard Castle.

Shelter puzzle

Sir, - The county council, having achieved its goal of a large increase in the tax it levies on us all, has now revealed one of its plans on how to spend the extra money. This plan is to erect a bus shelter in a village (Sutton) that has no bus service.

The "white elephant" is to be situated in a conservation area, against the wishes of the residents, and in a rather hazardous position close to the junction of the A170 with an unclassified road.

These facts are well known at the county council which chose to ignore them, and indeed do not reply to any correspondence on the subject. Our elected representatives on the council are also very quiet on this issue and seem powerless to prevent this waste of public (our) money.

The county council extracts a quarter of my pension every month with this iniquitous tax for very little in return. I object most strongly to its most foolish ways of spending it. The next council election may sharpen councillors minds, but what can be done about the bureaucrats who advise them?

T J LOWEY

Sutton

Thirsk

Still digging up

Sir, - Some may remember that two years ago I wrote regarding the poor state of the Aiskew/Bedale stretch of road, and how continually having work carried out on was causing delays. Recent newspaper articles have highlighted how the situation has not changed, and indeed, some visitors have come to believe that Bedale's crest is of a workman figure within a red triangle, and it's motto "Road Under Repair".

Twenty-two years ago, when I returned to the area to work with my father at our Bedale Auction Rooms, I remember waiting outside Gills Garage, watching workmen peer into yet another hole, and listening to my father describe how it was the most dug-up road in Britain, Surely, the situation has become even worse!

Councillors, shopkeepers and businesses often wonder why, in comparison with other local market towns, people do not shop in Bedale, despite some excellent shops and more-than-adequate car parking. In this age, when time is precious and convenience paramount, the continued inconvenience of a 15-20 minute hold-up in either direction has to be a major factor.

After I wrote last time, the roadworks disappeared for a month as if by magic, only to again lay siege to the town ever since, so here's hoping that this letter will at least have a similar effect!

M W DARWIN

South Parade,

Northallerton.