Letters: Daylight robbery

I wonder if anyone knows where all the instruments would go from the theatres at Duchess of Kent Military Hospital after they were closed - there were many urology clinics and operations at DKMH, apart from all the other procedures which took place there?

Secondly, whilst Hambleton residents receive black refuse sacks free gratis, here in Richmondshire we must provide our own. However, we are hoping that Leyburn Town Council will eventually build an even larger shelter in the Market Place so that all the home owners who can no longer afford to pay the council tax will have somewhere to shelter.

The rise this year is daylight robbery as we receive nothing extra to account for the increase. We are presumably paying off ancient debts, such as police pensions?

Even the precept for Middleham has risen by a large amount, whilst we, as residents, must continue to devote our efforts to street cleaning after horses and stable waste have passed through the town. Rather than, when paying the tax, complain to the Clerk who works for Richmondshire, it would be better if even a few lines could be sent to our local MP, William Hague, so that for the rest of this Parliament he could, at the very least, monitor the situation.

It is a sad situation when one's own property is used as a bank by the local council to draw unlimited sums of money. The way property was divided into bands was a very hit and miss affair, particularly in areas where each house differed from its neighbour and value was something which a prospective buyer may or may not have been interested in paying. I hope people will continue to object by writing to you and also to Mr Hague.

AUDREY WAUDBY

Westwood House,

Middleham.

Forum hijacked

Sir, - I refer to your report on the Lower Wensleydale Parish Forum (D&S Apr 19). The article referred to me as a "campaigner". That is, of course, true.

I have been campaigning for the last ten years for high standards in local government because I believe that those high standards give officers job satisfaction, deter those who ought not to be there from entering public life, and give the taxpayer value for money.

There will always be some who wish to force their views upon others regardless of the merits and it is part of our democratic system that we have an Opposition.

This Opposition can come from within the elected members, the Press, or even the electorate itself. Politics isn't something which only happens once every four years.

The parish forum was intended to give parish councils and the electorate an informal platform to express their views. It was not intended to be hijacked by senior officers and the leader of Richmondshire District Council.

It should therefore also be conducted in such a way that it is not his view which prevails but the view of the meeting. If he is at fault then it is reasonable to point that out to him.

BERNARD BORMAN

Brentwood,

Leyburn.

Trying hard

Sir, - According to a recent local press report, the owners of a shop on applying to their local authority for permission to change its use have been asked to provide evidence that they have "tried hard enough to sell the property as a going concern" and also that a "reasonable rent was being asked for it".

By that same token, would it not be reasonable for Richmondshire ratepayers to ask their local authority how, when and where they advertised the Farm and Garden centre tenancy and whether they too were asking a reasonable rent for it?

RON F ASHBRIDGE

Lyons Road,

Richmond.

Music night

Sir, - My wife and I attended an old time music hall evening on Thursday April 4 at the Zetland Community Centre, Richmond.

This event was organised by the Richmond Whitsuntide meet committee and may we say they all took part. They all must be congratulated for a job very well done.

Next year, with a little more publicity, they may play to full houses. Good luck to them all.

BARRY & MURIEL SALVIN

Church Wynd,

Richmond