Sir, - Although a newcomer to Middleham - seven years only - I am willing to endorse the points made by Nancy Murgatroyd (D&S letters, Jan 10).

I feel privileged to live in such a beautiful part of Yorkshire and to be part of Middleham's diverse community - but have been frustrated on countless occasions by the attitude and actions of the town council.

In particular, I am dismayed at the general lack of support for, recognition of, and co-operation with the racing community.

Racing is the principal industry in the area. It is key to Middleham's prosperity and fundamental, I would suggest, to our future. Surely the town council can see the benefits of developing a positive, constructive and forward-thinking dialogue with the trainers' association?

I recognise I am as guilty as anyone of not voicing my concerns in the past, but hope that if other Middleham residents have similar concerns they will be prepared to take this timely opportunity of speaking out.

LESLEY KNEVITT

Arundel House,

Middleham.

Fundamental truth

Sir, - After nearly 22 years in Middleham, my clear priorities when reading the D&S are firstly to turn to Jo Scott's racing column, which helps me to keep in touch with my neighbours' successful activities (without which our town would be a poorer place, in every sense), then I scan the letters page to discover if there is a currrent theme on which I might permit myself an opinion - although I usually refrain from expressing it publicly.

Last week Nancy Murgatroyd wrote about the cost of administering Middleham Town Council and, whilst I could not endorse the detail of every statement made in her letter, it did contain a fundamental truth on which I really hope my friends and neighbours on the council will agree to take action sooner rather than later.

There is a message here for other communities (and for the district). It is remarkably easy for good people to become misguided in civic matters and for them to drift into believing that they always have right on their side when judging how best to spend public money.

All councillors need to remind themselves occasionally that, in acting on behalf of other people, it is sometimes wise to consider changing policy, and spending patterns, if the local public is not largely in tune with council actions.

I sincerely believe that most Middleham folk are now completely opposed to the level of money and time devoted to administration on their behalf and that they would much rather take the risk of having slightly less efficient and greatly simplified council management than see the continuation of recent high levels of funding in this direction.

PETER HIBBARD

Old School Arts Workshop,

Middleham.

Let them stand

Sir, - With reference to the five and a half hour meetings of the Middleham Town Council referred to Nancy Murgatroyd's letter (D&S, Jan 10) and her points about administrative costs being out of all proportion to the income of the council, may I suggest that councillors be required to stand during the entire meeting, as is the case with Privy Council meetings?

This would help to concentrate the minds of councillors and result in considerably shorter meetings.

The resulting minutes of the meeting would be briefer and would thus help to reduce administrative costs, since the time taken to summarise the contents of five and a half hours of any committee ramblings must be enormous.

The resulting reduction in costs in this area alone would make more funds available for the benefit of the community, which should surely be the object of the parish council in the first place.

JOHN ATKINS

Market Place,

Middleham.

A great injustice

Sir, - In her recent letter, (D&S, Jan 10), Mrs Murgatroyd does a great injustice to the people of Middleham and their elected representatives.

The low attendance of electors at council meetings no doubt reflects the confidence and trust shown by them in their choice at the ballot box. The length of meetings reflects the thorough and meticulous manner in which all issues are appraised, (indeed, a call for shorter, timed meetings was regarded by at least one new member as "undemocratic"), and the cost of administering Middleham Council business and its assets compares favourably with neighbouring authorities with similar incomes.

Middleham people are very protective of their inheritance, and they rely on their elected representatives to protect them from minority interests and silver tongued visionaries, and to work for the benefit of the community as a whole.

PETER SWALES

Park Lane,

Middleham