Sir, - I feel compelled to take issue with the comments of Peter Swales (D&S letters, Jan 17).

It is my understanding from talking to the many and varied sectors of the Middleham electorate that far from trusting the council the general consensus is that they have entirely "lost the plot", and the reason that people do not attend meetings is that they are not made to feel welcome and are asked to leave as soon as the council begin a debate about the very things that interest them, primarily the Moor rents and administration costs.

To try to make a favourable comparison on the issue of income is a nonsense, we should be looking at the number of households and then the figures most certainly do not hold up to any form of scrutiny.

The length of the meetings is solely to do with continual arguments and disagreements between the old and the new councillors, nothing more. Indeed one of the old councillors had it minuted that she used to enjoy going to meetings and that they were previously much shorter. Perhaps the cosy club has now been invaded by "silver tongued visionaries" or is it just that a different view is making itself heard.

The new councillors are only trying to reduce the ever-escalating administrative costs, ensure that the minutes are considerably shortened and are accurate and that open and friendly dialogue can be created among all the differing and inter-linked sections of this wonderful and unique community.

In May the electorate will decide what kind of administration it wants.

TAMMI TOLHURST

Middleham Grange,

Middleham.

Sir, - I could take issue with much of the letter about Middleham from Peter Swales (D&S letters, Jan 17) and suspect others will do so. I will confine myself to one matter only.

Mr Swales, in seeking to defend the length of council meetings, quotes one new councillor as regarding shorter, timed meetings as undemocratic. What he neglects to say is that the councillor concerned was commenting on a particular proposal which if implemented on a mandatory basis could, and inevitably would, have effectively precluded certain items being raised or discussed.

This same councillor supported the proposal when it was agreed it would only be advisory and at a subsequent meeting voted in favour of another proposal designed to shorten meetings.

I find it sad in the face of the facts that Mr Swales seeks to argue that the newer Middleham Town councillors are against shorter meetings.

MAX HOLLAND

Market Place,

Middleham.

No progress

Sir, - Why has there been no obvious progress to alleviate the frustrating delays at Northallerton's three barrier-controlled rail crossings?

The minimum delay is about three minutes with a train travelling at 40/50mph, whilst much slower trains (which seems to be the majority) cause a much longer delay.

So long are the road traffic queues that it is not unusual for the barrier to come down again before the previous queue has dispersed. At North End, the queueing vehicles are regularly back to the parish church.

Where is the suggested bridge at the Darlington Road crossing? Not only will this bridge eliminate queues to the north of the town also, there would be the benefit of reduced delays at the other two crossings which are only a quarter mile apart. At present there is one mile between the crossings furthest apart.

Let me set a target for a bridge to be in operation by the end of 2003!

M W GRAHAM

Ash Tree Road,

Bedale.