Letters to the Editor

Far be it from me to suggest that the chairman is being economical with the truth, but I do believe the plethora of statistics he quoted bears some closer inspection.

He says the council approved an increase in the recycling budget of £70,000 over the previous year. However, how much of this figure is made up of the additional cost of recycling refrigerators that had been forced on the council this year by new EU regulations? If you discount this amount, then I believe my assertion is correct that the comparable year-on-year budget for recycling in Richmondshire (in real terms) has been reduced.

The chairman claims that the council achieved a 6.9pc domestic refuse recycling rate. Rubbish! (If you will excuse the pun). Apart from not knowing how on earth he calculated that one fourteenth of all of our rubbish is recycled, it is certainly not the council which achieves this.

Any improvements in recycling in Richmondshire have been down to the hard work of ordinary people of the district, who diligently search out the recycling bins for metal and plastic, no matter how few and far between they are.

As for the kerbside collection of paper, how come we in Brompton on Swale have not heard about this? Where are the 60pc of households being served by this new scheme? In central Richmond perhaps?

The record of a council on any policy, whether it be recycling or reducing unnecessary entertaining, is based on the willingness of the council to take the initiative and put its money where its mouth is. After my letter to your paper, Richmondshire announced the appointment of a waste management assistant (boasted about by the chairman in his letter). The money for this initiative came from a Government department (Defra), not from Richmondshire District Council.

It is this money that is paying for the kerbside scheme and Schools Waste Action Club, not the council's budget as the chairman seems to claim. It was awarded to try to persuade the council to reach the minimum recycling target set by the Government of 18pc of household waste, a target I can find no reference to in the Richmondshire District Council plan dated June 2002.

With the complacent attitude exemplified by the chairman of the environment committee, Richmondshire District Council has as much chance of meeting that externally imposed target as a snowball in hell.

LESLIE ROWE

Brompton on Swale Liberal

Democrats

Richmond Road,

Brompton on Swale.

Equal opportunity

Sir, - Margaret Cave's melancholic piece (D&S, Sep 6) provokes the response that most men don't live long enough to survive to a lonely old age.

We work, from 65 we rest a few years and then Upwards. Future generations of women may start to experience the same now that their retirement age has been raised. Lonely? Why worry, it may never happen.

WENZEL SPATH

North Street,

Ripon

Sir, - We live in a democratic society, or so they say. But apparently this does not really apply to members of North Yorkshire County Council's planning committee.

Those of us who attended the meeting on Tuesday, where the Yorwaste application for an integrated waste management facility and landfill at Tancred, Scorton was being considered, hoped it would be approved or refused in a fair manner based on the lengthy report and from statements made verbally on the day.

Unfortunately, one of our major fears from the outset was that there could be some bias toward the application, as the county council is a major shareholder in Yorwaste Ltd, but we were assured that this would never happen, Ultimately, this fear was realised, when a council member declared an interest in Yorwaste at the start of the meeting.

But it was alright, he had taken legal advice and would be able to vote! No prizes for guessing which way. To add insult to injury this gentleman was allowed to propose that the planning application be approved. The split decision was given in favour of Yorwaste on the casting vote of the chairman, for reasons best known to himself, considering the information to hand and the statements he had heard.

As a group, we have been fighting to stop this for the last two years, with some residential support, but a great deal of help from the parish council and our county councillor. Thank you for those who spoke against the plans at the meeting, namely, Mr D Lee, Mr J Ramsay, Mr I Threlfall (chairman of the parish council), and County Coun Michael Heseltine.

We can now only hope that all the conditions are adhered to and that the Environment Agency fulfils its duty to keep Scorton and the surrounding area safe from all the dangers we fear. We also hope Yorwaste carry out its duties in a much more satisfactory way then they have done at the present Scorton tip, otherwise heaven help us all.

The Action Group Against The Tip

Scorton,

Richmond.

No confidence

Sir, - I refer to the planning application dealt with on Tuesday by members of North Yorkshire County Council's planning committee.

Five voted for and five against an application by Yorwaste for an integrated waste management facility and land fill site at the village of Scorton. The chairman used his casting vote to approve the application.

The councillor who proposed the approval was a member who had already stated at the beginning of the meeting he had an interest. Apparently he had taken legal advice and was able to vote. I think the system stinks.

After two years of fighting this plan and a public enquiry that has cost the county thousands of pounds, the residents of Scorton and County Coun Michael Heseltine argued well why this application should be refused., But unfortunately whatever was said did not make any difference at all.

This application was not approved on its merits. It was passed due to people having their fingers in the same pie.

This doesn't give the residents of Scorton any confidence in local government.

I hope in 10 years time when this land fill site is surrounded by lakes and leisure facilities it will be understood the county council made a big mistake.

Finally let's hope Yorwaste adhere to the conditions laid down when planning was granted. They might even surprise us and man this site properly, not like the existing land fill site.

AMANDA RAMSAY

Banks Lane,

Scorton

Richmond.

Support abattoir

Sir, - There is presently discussion in the media about the planning application for a new abattoir at Rougham Farm, between Boroughbridge and Knaresborough.

P Hutton Ltd, a small family butcher in Knaresborough, has submitted plans to build an abattoir to serve local farmers. The building of the new abattoir will mean Mr Mudd can close his current, older premises, which are situated in the middle of a residential area in the town.

While I appreciate that each side, for and against the new application, has a right to put forward views, I am dismayed at what I consider to be the underhand tactics being used by those protesting against the proposed new abattoir.

Recently, Nick Wilson, a well-known and vocal protestor resident in Marton-cum-Grafton, arrived at my own abattoir, McIntyres Meats, and proceeded to take photographs, on site, without first seeking permission. Eventually I asked Mr Wilson to leave. I can only but imagine how the photographs may eventually be used in manipulating views.

I believe that much of the detail currently being issued by the protestors to be incorrect, exaggerated or out of date. I hope that the local councils will not have their hand forced by the bullish approach being used by those against the application and will consider only the facts.

It is a shame to see an individual who is trying to maintain a family business, being hounded by professional campaigners. I wish Mr Mudd every success in continuing in business.

MARTIN McINTYRE

East Borwins Farm,

Bainbridge.

Free radio

Sir, - Further to the report about radio services being available via the Patientline system at Darlington Memorial Hospital, I wish to clarify the following.

Radio Skerne, the hospital's own broadcasting service and registered charity, is not yet connected to the new system but it hopes to be soon. Radio Skerne services are still avaliable through the conventional headset system and day-room speakers.

When Radio Skerne is connected to the Patientline system, its services will be entirely free to all patients.

We are hoping to get an internal telephone link to the Patientline system so that patients can telephone us their requests and dedications from their bedside console entirely free of charge also.

MIKE SMITH

Station manager, Radio Skerne,

Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Question of value

Sir, - Congratulations to the officers and Jackie Mackenzie and Associates on winning three awards for The Curlew. It is a well-produced publication and clearly deserves the accolades awarded.

Bearing in mind that this publication costs council tax payers of Richmondshire some £20,000 per annum, the questions which arise are whether it is value for money because it engages the electorate with the council and provides factual and useful information to the electorate, or whether it is just a tool for the management and leadership to tell us how good they are.

BERNARD BORMAN

Brentwood,

Leyburn.