Letters: Role explained

At April's meeting of the planning committee, members considered an application by Vodafone to erect two flagpole-style mobile phone masts on St Margaret's Church in Hawes. This followed an earlier debate on the application at the March meeting of the committee, when members were minded to refuse permission.

At the March meeting, members had not refused the application. They had indicated their views at that time knowing full well that the authority's officers would go away and examine their reasons for refusal, before bringing back a further report to advise them if their grounds for refusal were robust.

This is the "reference back system" and is operated by the authority when decisions of the planning committee go against policy or officer recommendation. When this happens, the committee's reasons are formally recorded and the authority's officers consider them in full to see if they constitute sound planning reasons for going against a recommendation. This is not an exercise that can be done over lunch; it takes time and is important if we are to demonstrate to the applicant, objectors and other interested parties that fairness is central to the decision making process.

The "reference back system" is not bureaucratic; in fact it is commended by the Government's independent best value inspectors and the district auditor as an example of best practice. I do, however, concede that we need to take steps to better explain this process to the public and I trust that this letter is part of the process.

It must not be forgotten, the Yorkshire Dale National Park Authority, like all planning authorities, is required by law to base decisions on the planning merits of a case and not on what is democratically popular. Unless there are sound planning reasons for refusal, we cannot refuse an application, even if popular opinion is such that it would be the easiest course of action.

In the case of the phone masts, there were no credible planning reasons for this application to be refused; that was the final decision of the planning committee.

To imply that this authority is insensitive to the wishes of some national park residents is wrong. All we have done is decide an application based on its planning merits in an open and thorough way, and for that we stand criticised by those who should have a better understanding.

DAVID BUTTERWORTH

Chief executive, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority,

Bainbridge.

Care homes

Sir, - I was disturbed to read that the St John of God Hospital at Scorton was to close, another victim of Government and local policy to close private health care.

Some years ago, setting up private residential care was a quick way of making money, but this is no longer true and was never true in the case of St John of God.

Reports of private residential care units closing are legion. Local authorities, when closing homes, say better care can be provided in the home; unfortunately many people require constant care which is not practical in their own home and lack of finances does not provide care in the home for needy cases.

New regulations set down structural standards which in many cases, such as the St John of God Hospital, cannot be economically or structurally met. The loving care and long experience of looking after patients is discounted.

Also, local authorities pay private care homes less than it costs to keep patients in their own homes, leading to private homes closing or becoming bankrupt.

Turning people out of care homes has been proved to shorten life. It is accepted that this problem of care for the elderly is going to increase. Are Government and local authorities using the turning-out of patients as one way of solving the problem of shortage of finances and the will to provide more care?

I and many others wish St John of God all the best in relocating and rebuilding another hospital to serve the community.

DEREK A BAMFORD

Turker Lane,

Northallerton.

Keep knitting

Sir, - We wish Rose Severs and Pat Smith a long and happy retirement following the closure of Woollybacks in Thirsk, but your article under the headline "Area's last knitting shop closes" (D&S, April 5) is not strictly true.

For the last 13 years, the Wensleydale Longwool Sheepshop, near Leyburn, has provided local and overseas customers with wool from the soft, lustrous fleece of the Wensleydale sheep.

It is true that there are fewer knitters around than say, 30 years ago. But there is still a large number of women and men of all ages who see knitting as a lively and versatile pastime, producing garments different from the high street shops, but still up-to-date and stylish. This is proven by the number of celebrities who have recently taken up their needles.

So do not despair knitters, between us we can keep this great pastime alive.

Ann Bolam & Ruth Tombleson

Wensleydale Longwool Sheepshop,

Cross Lanes Farm,

Garriston,

Leyburn.

Skateboard park

Sir, - I totally agree with R Pavitt with regard to "The ideal spot" (D&S , April 5). I, too, am disappointed that the proposal for a skateboard park at Ronaldshay Park was turned down.

As this is already a play area with very few houses in close proximity, it is perfect. The young people of Richmond involved in skateboarding must feel very let down.

Might we hope for a change of mind by the chairman of the committee, to sanction the skateboard park in the ideal spot.

W A G WARD

Cravengate Nursieries,

Richmond.

Lest we forget

Sir, - It is good to see that the memorial for the Battle of the Standard has been repaired (D&S, April 12).

What a pity that nobody has seen fit to replace the plaque remembering the old boys of Northallerton Grammar School who died in the Second World War. This was removed (stolen?) from Grammar School Lane some years ago, lest we forget.

A M RONTREE

St James Drive,

Northallerton