Sir, - It is easy to understand why Middleham residents rarely attend meetings of Middleham Town Council.

They start at 7.30, and usually finish at around 1am. Discussions get quite heated, and members of the public are asked to leave for undetermined periods of time in the middle of the proceedings while matters are discussed in private.

So it takes a brave person to become a councillor and try to bring about change. Some of our newer councillors have tried hard to do this, particularly in three areas.

So what have they been trying to achieve? Firstly, to have public minutes that accurately reflect the meetings. Secondly, to have open and transparent debate with trainers and townspeople about the moor and to reach fair and amicable agreements. Thirdly, to reduce the administration costs of the council from more than £12,500, when the precept is only about £5,000.

Progress is very slow indeed. So it is understandable that one of them has had enough; feeling that the constant conflict and frustration of the council makes it impossible for him to make a useful contribution. Sadly, he has resigned.

The new code of conduct for town councils insists that councillors come to meetings with an open mind and reflect the views of electors in their decisions. So if you think that the minutes should tell us what went on at the meetings, that we should have open and transparent council debate, and that the gallop fees should benefit Middleham, make your views heard.

The council is about to appoint a new clerk. Do you really think that all of the precept and the majority of the gallop fees should be spent on council administration and litigation? If you would like to see a reduction in this spending, now is the time to say so. If we do nothing it will simply go on happening.

NANCY MURGATROYD

Hill House,

Middleham.

Unfestive thoughts

Sir, - Since the Christmas holidays started back in August, I have felt that it is time for a fundamental review of our calendar. I have two proposals to make that would significantly improve the calendar for us British.

Firstly Christmas. We all know that eventually the Christmas period will take over the full year and we will be singing "On the twelfth month of Christmas my true love gave to me..."

How about having an Unchristmas? A holiday for people who find the never-ending jollity of Christmas a bit wearing. On what we now call the twelfth night, when we traditionally take down the decorations and the tree, we could commence the Unchristmas holidays. Three days of misery and depression when all the "Bah Humbugs" come home to roost. January 6 could be Unchristmas Eve when we take back all the unwanted Christmas presents. Then Unchristmas day and finally Wrestling day.

Secondly the year itself. People in this country always complain about the weather and how cold it is, so why not simplify things by basing the year around the winter solstice? Think how simple the seasons could be, Spring would be the 20th of June, summer the 21st, and Autumn the 22nd. The rest of the year would be winter. What could be easier than that?

All nominations for a Nobel Prize for philosophy will be greatly received.

CHRIS HOWELLS

Green Lane West,

Sowerby