Letters: Roads irony

We have witnessed concerted efforts by quarry companies and related bodies to publicise the positive side of quarrying in order to minimise public opposition to the destruction of our landscape and heritage.

Tarmac Northern has recently revealed proposals to quarry the land around the Thornborough Henges.

These once sacred monuments are of international importance - but equally important is their setting. Most of the evidence about the people who built them and used them for their ceremonies lies in this landscape. This must be preserved for future generations by the use of sympathetic agricultural methods. This Neolithic complex lies between Well and Boroughbridge where it terminates in a stone circle containing four of the largest standing stones in the country.

This area is as important to the north of England as Stonehenge and Salisbury Plain is to the south.

The global giant Anglo American is planning to strike at the heart of our heritage by destroying our prehistoric landscape and replacing it with a faked restoration.

The final irony is that the government is planning to reduce the impact on Salisbury Plain from road widening by engineering a mile-long tunnel whilst our heritage is destroyed to provide the materials for these schemes.

R J LONSDALE

Kiln Farm,

Nosterfield.

Dumping ground

Sir, - As winter has approached and the vegetation has died back, it has become increasingly obvious that the public at large seem to think that the hedge bottoms, road-side verges and lay-bys are dumping grounds for their trash, much of which has originated from fast food chains.

Plastic bags, polystyrene containers, sandwich cartons with half-eaten sandwiches in them, pizza boxes, drink cans and plastic bottles and cartons, and of course the numerous empty fag packets, crisp bags and chocolate wrappers adorn the countryside. It is little wonder that there is an increase in the rat population.

Town centres have the added luxury of fag ends and chewing gum which people seem to think bio-degrade on hitting the ground. The open mouthed gum-chewing manager of a well known football club and knight of the realm seems to be of this opinion, if television coverage is anything to go by.

Much of this waste is disposed of by the travelling public from their vehicles. Beach clean ups also highlight the fact that the rivers and seas are also used as convenient dumping grounds

Those who are dumping their trash instead of taking it to a bin would no doubt be the first to complain about any risks to the perceived quality of the environment from development. There is also a potential risk to farm livestock if there is contact with disposed of food products containing meat or meat products. As no other origin was established, the last swine fever outbreak was attributed to free range pigs having access to discarded sandwiches.

I am not convinced that any proposed changes in legislation to litter disposal will make any difference. In fact it may make matters worse, A structured publicity campaign to adults and children alike may help educate them in what at the end of the day is a relatively simple task, ie to dispose of their litter in a bin.

G NICHOLSON

Scruton,

Northallerton.

Sir, - So, it's a £50 fine from Darlington Borough Council for dropping litter (D&S, Dec 6). As I walk or cycle about the town of Cockerton I can't help but notice the messy trail of litter to say nothing of chewing gum and fag ends. Every shrubby area seems to be used as a litter bin and verges on the outskirts of town are thick with the stuff which has been tossed out of cars.

If the council could have £50 for each of these pieces of rubbish it would be rich indeed and able to reinstate an army of park keepers and even reduce the rates.

I do wonder how it is going to collect all this money? Are those who are caught likely to give their correct names and addresses? The wardens will probably only be working in office hours when most of the offences happen out of these times.

YVONNE ROWE

Thornbury Rise,

Darlington.

Community threat

Sir, - Further to recent correspondence in the Darlington & Stockton Times on the subject of the proposed licensing fees for concerts in churches and chapels, there must be hundreds of amateur choirs and music groups all over the country whose only venue for concerts - the satisfying fulfilment of their months of work - is the local church or chapel.

The imposition of licensing fees will deny them a place to demonstrate their work and abilities, as few if any of these venues will be in a position to pay such fees. Most churches and chapels are already struggling to meet their financial commitments without further demands upon their resources.

With no end result to look forward, to this will effectively kill off many local groups which are essentially the life-blood of music-making in the Dales and any other rural areas.

Let us all protest vigorously before this proposed Bill goes through Parliament.

JANET TAYLOR

Garth Hill,

Preston under Scar,

Patronising

Sir, - I refer to your front-page report last week "Photographer to appeal against window refusal" (D&S Cleveland edition, Dec 6).

I am sure that the residents of Great Ayton are more then grateful for the efforts of the applicant, the builder and an out-of-area architect's agent to keep their "dwindling community" alive.

It may be true that "many homes are being sought as holiday homes" but as far as I am aware, the number being used as such at the present time con be counted on the fingers of one hand.

As regards the parish council's handling of planning applications, a monthly perusal of the minutes displayed in Park Square noticeboard and in the library will show that the parish council does not "object to every proposal submitted". It does, however, attempt to draw the fine line between sometimes marginal over development or aesthetically unpleasing applications, particularly in the conservation area, and developments which help enhance the village atmosphere of a thriving community.

While I appreciate Mr and Mrs Cornish's desire not to upset anyone, their architect's statement is inaccurate and patronising. It would have been better to ascertain the facts before publication.

FRANCES M GREENWELL

Chairman,

Great Ayton Parish Council.

Great volunteers

Sir, - As the Christmas season draws near may I pay tribute to the hundreds of volunteers from the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) who give up their time throughout the year to make a real difference in their local communities.

Our volunteers provide many different services including meals on wheels, books on wheels and hospital services as well as caring for people affected by emergencies such as flooding and other disasters.

WRVS volunteers are very much part of the fabric of life in our region, and it is fitting that during the festive season we should say a big thank-you to them all.

Should any of your readers wish to join us to provide bigger and better services in 2003 they can ring 0845 6014670 to find out about volunteering opportunities in their area.

CHRISTINE DOBSON

WVRS,

Darlington.

Hither and thither

Sir, - May I make mention of a Tunstall bungalow planning application, which has been approved, re-run and minded to be approved, re-run again and refused and when further raised in committee was simply noted for no further action.

As far as I know, this is the first time this has happened in Richmondshire and it leaves the applicant at least bewildered. Does this set a precedent for future applications and should not planning applicants be made aware a vote for is, well, not a vote for and not to get the champagne glasses out prematurely?

Coun TONY PELTON

High Green,

Catterick Village