Sir, - Your anonymous correspondents, writing under the title of Quarry Road Residents' Association, stated in your letters column that the survey carried out by Richmond Liberal Democrats into traffic problems in the Quarry Road area of Richmond was "flawed" and also that "the survey conducted by North Yorkshire County Council also revealed that a majority of residents supported point closure" of the junction of Quarry Road with Omen Howards Road.

It does, therefore, seem somewhat strange to find that the county council survey results, quoted in the agenda information of the Richmondshire Area Committee meeting on Monday, state that of the 96 replies to the survey, only 35 were in favour of point closure, which equates to 40.7pc.

The Liberal Democrat survey found that 39pc of replies supported point closure, with 53pc being opposed and 7pc being neutral, rounded to the nearest whole number.

The return of surveys was 74.6pc compared with the NYCC return of 74pc. The Liberal Democrats' independent survey also gave residents the opportunity to give more detailed responses than the county council survey and to include written comments.

Those raised concerns that included public safety, the need for winter access from Green Howards Road and delays to the emergency services.

We will be delivering a leaflet, with our survey results and including some of the written comments, to residents in the Quarry Road area in the near future.

The Quarry Road Residents' Association states that I must have been "very selective" about who I approached on the Quarry Road issue. In fact, I have been very aware of this issue since I was elected as a town councillor for the Richmond Central ward seven years ago and have discussed the issue with Quarry Road residents.

I have taken every opportunity to raise the central issue of public safety. My actions have included objecting to the further expansion of the trading estate at the local plan inquiry, raising the issue at meetings of the district council, including the former access, travel and transport committee, as well as meetings of the town council and NYW area committee.

I believe that my persistence has been a major factor in persuading the county council to act on this matter. Both the town and district councils have supported the principle of traffic calming for Quarry Road and I am pleased that the county councillors on the county council area committee voted unanimously to carry out consultations about proposed experimental traffic calming and an order to restrict use to vehicles of less that 7.5 tonnes. I will continue to press for this, together with a 20mph speed restriction.

Coun JOHN HARRIS

Ronaldshay Drive,

Richmond.

Cheese facts

Sir, - I must respond to David Bowe's comments reported in your October 18 edition regarding Yorkshire feta and the EEC.

As a Northern MEP, he should check his facts before loosely commenting on matters likely to affect constituents in his region. We have been making our Yorkshire Feta from 100pc pure locally-produced ewes' milk since early 1987 and have only ever called it Yorkshire feta. We never use goats' milk. The fact that we are called Shepherds Purse may have fooled Mr Bowe!

Our contention, fully supported by Margaret Beckett's ministry, Defra, is that feta is not of Greek origin. France and Denmark also consider it is a generic term for a type of fresh cheese made throughout Europe and the Mediterranean region. The word is either French or Italian and there is no place or region in Greece called Feta. Strangely, however, Cheddar (as English as the Cheddar Gorge) and even Wensleydale cheese are not protected because they are deemed to be generic.

In 1999, Greece's application was rejected on appeal. Unfortunately, the Greeks obtained their PDO because of EEC procedural weakness. At the meeting of the relevant EU regulatory committee or the Agriculture Council, insufficient member states voted to give the required majority for the re-application and the motion was then allowed through by default! Much of Greece's feta is imported from France or Denmark. What are the chances of that fact appearing on their labels!

Yorkshire feta was our first cheese and we have created a quality product accepted by leading wholesalers and retailers throughout the UK. Its loss will give us problems, so being a small company we sought help to tackle the might of EEC bureaucracy and allow us to continue in the face of a wrong ruling.

Anne McIntosh, Edward McMillan Scott, and Austin Mitchell have, thankfully, all made the extra effort to assist, as they see the dangers the present EEC system presents to other UK products. I imagine that Mr Bowes' criticism of the two Conservative politicians came off the top of his head, which may account for its small-mindedness.

DAVID MORAN

Managing director, Shepherds Purse,

Thirsk.

What we do

Sir, - It is a fact that the majority of people do not understand who is responsible for local authority services in their community. Therefore, I do not criticise David Wright (D&S letters Oct 18).

By inference it seems he is of the opinion that Northallerton Town Council has a part to play in housing allocation. This is not so. The town council has absolutely no responsibility, this is totally under the powers of Broadacres Housing Association because the social housing stock, including sheltered accommodation, was sold by Hambleton District Council to Broadacres, therefore they decide on lettings and housing matters.

Mr Wright also comments on co-options onto the town council. Town and parish councillors are either (1) elected, (2) elected unopposed, (3) co-opted when there is no one to fill the vacancy. The town council is parochially geared to the services provided within its area - the town. Remember also town and parish councillors do not receive any remuneration.

The comparison between Romanby and Northallerton is quite misleading. It is like comparing apples with pears.

Northallerton employs eight people, Romanby one part-time clerk (and a good one too) and one part-time cleaner. The town council is responsible for the town hall plus more open spaces and play areas than any other town in Hambleton District.

The town also acts as parent through its services to Romanby, Brompton and all the villages throughout its hinterland. The townsfolk and visitors benefit from the town council's effort in the Britain in Bloom and Yorkshire in Bloom competitions which make the town so attractive.

Good value for a difference of £22.14 per year or 43p per week.

Finally, should Mr Wright wish to express himself within the public domain he can (1) address the town council in the public section of the town council meetings, and the town council welcomes public participation and (2) he may stand for election to the town council next May.

Coun ROB KENNEDY

Millfield Avenue,

Northallerton