Sir, - It was with a certain incredulity that I read your last week's front page article on Yarm School. The statement that "at a stroke this would solve the chronic parking problem" defies logic as this would merely move the problem and create more traffic in Green Lane.

I suspect the "secret talks" with Stockton Council were secret due to the obvious expected outcry from the local people. I cannot think of one positive that this could bring to the Yarm area other than spoil the river bank with yet more new build and more traffic.

If this proposed idiocy was passed, how many cars would be driving into and out of the now Yarm School from both sides - thus creating even longer lines of waiting traffic from both ends of Yarm.

Recently, Stockton Council passed a planning application in Yarm Road to demolish one house and build 25 flats on the same site - another house recently demolished in Yarm Road is now going to be 11 apartments, so how many dwellings will be created on this enormous historic site. The current trend in our area for high-priced apartments would no doubt be what Stockton Council has in mind - forgetting that each apartment would probably have two working people each having a car .

For several years now the populace has stood by and watched as the council has systematically built on every space available in Yarm and surrounding areas.

While I realise that every new building locally brings with it a "poll tax" for Stockton Council coffers, I really think it is time that this historic, beautiful village was taken into consideration before trying to further ruin the area. We have very little "green space" left around us and I believe we will be joined to Stockton on one side and Ingleby Barwick on the other with the proposed new school taking up yet more of our valuable green land in between - how sad that this could happen.

TINA BELL

Yarm Road,

Eaglescliffe.

Sir, - I was a little surprised to read (D&S Sept 20) that the headmaster of Yarm Independent Grammar School, Mr David Dunn, is putting forward plans for a new site for the school, so near to the 25th anniversary of its opening. I saw the school in 1978, when Mr Neville Tate first bought the site after returning from Argentina.

Mr Tate put great time and effort into building up the school to what it is today, and in what I would think as the perfect setting for any form of education in terms of beauty and historical interest.

I am not a person against change, change is very important in its place and of course Yarm School has changed considerably since its opening with its advanced technology and introduction of girls. Yet I think a change such as Mr Dunn envisages will affect Yarm itself, for instance in trading. I am sure many a senior pupil would go down to town in their dinner break to spend in the shops and this is unlikely to happen when it is based in Green Lane.

My last point concerns what will become of the old site. Luxury apartments - expensive flat for those few that can afford them. Will this help Yarm? I shouldn't think so; I doubt the occupiers will spend their money in Yarm itself. In my opinion Yarm would be the loser if the school is relocated.

Miss R M PINKNEY

Carr View,

Whitby.

Not closing

Sir, - On August 23 you published an article on the future of Brompton Village Hall entitled "New rules put village hall in jeopardy" which, unfortunately has caused rather more consternation in the village than the piece probably intended.

While the article was correct in stating that we are actively reviewing the long-term future of the hall, we have, contrary to the impression that it gave many of the villagers who read it, no plans to close in the near future. It is the management committee's intention that the hall will remain open for normal business for as long as the current regulations and local circumstances allow. It is also our intent that, once we have identified a viable way forward, we will make our plans known to the residents of Brompton prior to our taking any precipitous action that may have an adverse long term effect on village life.

I would, therefore, appreciate it if you could publish this letter as a way of reassuring Brompton residents that their village hall is not about to close.

R J CARTER

Chairman, Brompton village hall management committee,

Brompton Banks,

Stokesley Road, Northallerton.

Happy landings

Sir, - I too have been wondering about the helicopter landing at Middleton in Teesdale, irregularly certainly but hardly infrequently (D&S, Sept 20). It must come as news to many that the school playing field is a "designated landing space"; designated when and by whom and under what conditions?

And isn't it surprising that this designation is, evidently, unknown to the parish, district and county councils, the school governors or indeed anyone except Mr Renham and Mr Harris, who have not thought it courteous at least to tell the parish council.

Those of us who use motor transport subject to rules of so many sorts and who can scarcely put in a gate post without the scrutiny of some agency must be envious of the ease with which designation is got. Or was it a secret and not in the public interest to know? No doubt, the parish council will reveal all.

MICHAEL MCKEON

12 Newtown,

Middleton in Teesdale.

Non, merci

Sir, - I write as member of the farming community to protest in the strongest possible terms against the holding of a French market in Skinnergate, Darlington, this weekend.

The northernmost five counties of England have long been held as the premier red-meat producing area of the whole UK - and Darlington has more than played its part over the generations with its fatstock market in the town drawing top quality beef animals from the rich hinterland surrounding the town.

As the beef producer in the area knows to his cost, we have been denied a market for our export beef to France for more than three years. After suffering for so long from the obduracy of the French, I feel it is only right that their application to hold a French market in the town should have been turned down in no uncertain manner.

I would ask the question as to whether anyone on the Darlington Borough Council with any common sense had the gumption to think this through - or to ask the local farming community its opinion?

I sincerely hope that as many fair minded people as possible will see the sheer arrogance of holding such a market and will boycott the affair.

H D GUINEA

Market Place, Bedale.