PHONE MASTS: A letter sent by the Park's Officers to members of the National Park Authority's planning committee about the mobile phone masts in Hawes was deplored by the Parish Council as blatant and outright lobbying pressure to secure planning approvals for these masts in the Parish.

The Clerk would write in condemnation to the Chief Executive of the National Park. The Parish Council was reminded that all those objecting to the mast on St. Margaret's Church, Hawes should write in protest by August 31, to the Bishop of Ripon. The address was on posters displayed throughout the town.

LITTLE INGS TREES: Several residents raised the matter of the trees at the back of the Little Ings flats. Their main concerns were about safety, as electric wires had become intertwined with the trees, causing sparking on windy days. Youngsters were also climbing the trees and this was very dangerous. Councillor Blackie confirmed that the district council had little success in getting Northern Electric to attend to this matter, despite a site visit in March. The Parish Council agreed to back the residents request to have the trees felled and replaced with a hedge, and resolved to send a letter to Northern Electric.

RETIRING CLERK: The Parish Council said goodbye to parish clerk Linda Iveson at its monthly meeting in August. Chairman John Blackie said she had had been an excellent and hard working clerk over the past seven years. On behalf of the council he presented her with gifts in recognition of her services and wished her a long and happy retirement. The council appointed the new clerk, former solicitor Ian Fowler, of Gayle.

CEMETERY PLAN: Vice chairman, Tony Fawcett reported on the meeting with the directors of the Auction Mart to discuss the proposed extension of the cemetery. It was agreed to call upon the expertise of Richmondshire District Council to advise on parish council duties as a burial authority and on potential sources of public works finance.

HOUSING ISSUES: Jane Ringer, policy officer from Richmondshire District Council, advised on the local affordable housing scheme that the Parish Council is working on. The next step will be to invite interested housing associations to a meeting, and then select the most suitable association to take the scheme forward. There was strong support for the inclusion of a small number of elderly persons' bungalows in the scheme as Hawes did not have any of these.

DOG FOULING: There was still concern about the dog fouling taking place at the community fields, which is not being cleared by pet owners. A further appeal would be made for people to be responsible for their pets.

* See Friday's Darlington & Stockton Times for a full report.