Sir, - Had anyone chosen to ask, they would have found that Thirsk and Sowerby Town Hall was long since booked for the Revolt anti-pylon agm tonight, presumably months before the Joan Maynard lecture organisers thought of asking.

It really is a hoot - the impotent tattered remnants of the Tory shirearchy shrilling against the equally Lilliputian relicts of the far left, whilst New Labour colossus bestrides and browbeats us all.

For future reference; the parish hall in Sowerby, which gloriously hosted Miss Maynard's wake, would be much more convenient than Middlesbrough. After all, Joan lived just over the road, as an active, accepted and respected member of the community.

I can imagine her now - sitting on a cloud, giggling and no doubt strumming the chords of The Red Flag on her harp!

CHRISTOPHER M PURSER

St Oswald's House,

Front Street,

Sowerby.

Sir, - In your front page report (D&S, Sept 20) about the Joan Maynard lecture, Mark Robson (chairman of the Thirsk and Sowerby Town Hall Committee) is quoted as saying that Joan Maynard was well loved by many "despite her political views".

It was because of her principled and unwavering political philosophy that Joan was able to challenge and change many of the injustices she observed that were accepted by those in political power, both locally and nationally. The extent and depth of Joan's involvement in such issues are clearly set out in the official biography of Joan Maynard, researched and written by Dr Kristine Mason-O'Connor. This will be published next month and traces her many achievements in North Yorkshire as well as on the national political stage.

The biography should make fascinating reading for the many people who knew Joan, whether they were "one of us" or "one of them".

Given the arbitrary manner in which decisions are now to be made as to who may or may not speak at Thirsk and Sowerby Town Hall, I wonder if Joan Maynard would now be denied a platform?

DON E CARTRIDGE

(Organiser of the Joan Maynard memorial lecture)

61, Front Street,

Sowerby.

Bizarre

Sir, - North Yorkshire County Council has published a bizarre pamphlet called the Richmond Traffic Management Strategy - a plan to re-organise traffic vehicles in and around the market place. They have employed a consultant firm to help them. Why?

These people will be paid from council taxes. Some have put the fee at around £50k! It is considered that most consultants dilute management's decisions, increase the time and size of committees, are always expensive and so often escape criticism should the project go haywire.

It is hoped that the council's director of environmental services will consult with the many managers within the county council who should be more than capable of presenting this subject to the residents of Richmond.

GEORGE HAYES

Maison Dieu, Richmond