Letters: What happened?

Every member of the public who spoke at the meeting was against the proposal to sell off the playing field.

The proposal went to a public inquiry. While the inquiry was in progress under the supervision of a government inspector, RDC announced it had already sold the field, without waiting for the recommendations of the government inspector.

Since then RDC has had two failed lottery bids, and no new sports facilities have been provided. What was the amount of money they got from the housing developer who bought the field, and what has happened to the money?

The charges for sports facilities at sports centre, swimming pool, and dual use at Richmond School have increased during the last few years to more than most local sports centres but RDC does not accept this. Before the increases in charges the sports centre was fully used morning, afternoon and evening every week. There has been a complete lack of advertising of the facilities at the sports centre in visitor information guides, only the swimming pool being mentioned.

This very week the government has asked that more people take up sports, but the district council has now announced that from April the sports centre will be closed every weekday morning and will not open untill 2pm in the afternoons.

If the new sports centre to be built for the army at Catterick Garrison is similar to the one already built at Aldershot, it will cost over £10m and will have an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

I would like to point out that the new Catterick sports centre will be paid for with money from income tax payers. RDC is proposing to give up to £450,000 of council tax payers' money for part use of the Catterick sports centre, and we will have to pay for use of facilities, as well as to travel to Catterick.

What control will the present Richmond leisure management team have over Catterick's new sports centre, and how will this help improve facilities in Richmond?

R HUDSON

The Ghyll,

Richmond.

The best place

Sir, - In response to the letter "Wrong skate site" (D&S, Mar 8) we feel the following issues may be of interest.

There has not been a sudden "injection of enthusiasm" as a group has been meeting for a considerable time in an effort to secure a skateboard park for Richmond.

People have been meeting for five years and more in an attempt to develop a facility and other possible sites have been appropriate for one reason or another. In fact Richmond School said some time ago that it did not want a skateboard park within the school perimeter.

Surely a park is a place where young people are able to enjoy themselves and from the in-depth research we have undertaken a skateboard park is viewed simply as a play area for older young people.

Of course the young people surveyed said they would use a skateboard park wherever it is placed. It is a wonder they have not given up hope altogether in view of the time it has taken to get this far.

As for making the equipment mobile, in order to make the park as durable and professional as possible it is necessary to use appropriate equipment and the mini pipe, for example, weighs 2250 kilograms.

Finally, all of the members of the multi-agency group working on this project are convinced that Ronaldshay Park is the most appropriate site for a facility of this type and have put much thought and effort into taking the project forward.

The group is made up of representatives from: Richmondshire District Council, Richmond Town Council, Richmond Police, Community Education Service, Richmond Round Table and Richmond YMCA.

KEN ALLINSON

Richmond YMCA,

The Market Place,

Richmond.

Jubilee events

Sir, - Contrary to the report (D&S Mar 8), regarding events being organised in Thirsk to celebrate the Queen's jubilee, there are already a number of things being planned.

At a meeting held a fortnight ago, various organisations gave notice of their plans. These include a week-long flower festival at St Mary's Church, various exhibitions at the museum, a picnic on the Millennium Green and several other events, some associated with the Herriott Country Attraction Group's Herriott Happening Week.

All the events that have been notified to us are now being publicised in the town and we hope that more organisations will let us know what they are doing as well.

The Rotary Club is not proposing anything for the jubilee week but it was not my intention to denigrate the club for this, but rather to point out that the Rotary Festival in July would be their usual brilliant mixture of culture and fun for all, with some jubilee aspect.

It would not have been possible to have a big event on the market place on the jubilee bank holiday, because it is a bank holiday and as such will see the usual bank holiday market. In any case I was under the impression that the jubilee was supposed to be for smaller spontaneous celebrations, not large scale events organised by public bodies.

FREDA ROBERTS

Mayor of Thirsk,

Castlegate,

Thirsk.

Town's disgrace

Sir, - I agree entirely with Bob Pocklington with regard to the empty properties in Bedale (D&S, Mar 8).

Comments that we all hear regularly from visitors concerning the "state of Bedale" usually emanate from the impression given by one building, namely the former Town Hall/Smyth's bakery. This building, which is part of the conservation area and is listed, is a disgrace to the town.

If Hambleton has enforcement powers to ensure that the owners of such properties maintain them, and we understand that it does, then they have a duty to do so.

I know that the chamber of trade has written to the enforcement officer on exactly this issue, pointing out that other authorities are taking action in similar circumstances.

At, I am sure, considerable expense to us the rate payers, Hambleton produced a nice brochure several years ago concerning the conservation area and outlining what owners of property could and could not do.

However when it comes to any sort of enforcement It seems to fall into the category of "too difficult" or "can't be bothered".

I did e-mail the council through it's website about this issue a year or so ago. It's a good job I wasn't holding my breath waiting for an answer.

PAUL BENNETT

Bennett's Antiques & Collectables,

Market Place,

Bedale.

Talk to us

Sir, - Kate Empsall reported very well (Empty chairs at foot and mouth meeting - D&S Mar 1) the poorly attended meeting a week earlier at Hawes Market Hall.

At a monthly Rejuvenate meeting held on the evening before at the Wensleydale Pantry, Hawes, I was called upon to announce before 50 delegates the Friday meeting, of which I knew nothing beforehand.

Surely the organisers of such an important event deserve some criticism, for had they bothered to contact the Rejuvenate group earlier, we would have gladly assisted them in their attempts to get more people to attend.

The Rejuvenate group has worked very hard during the last 12 months gathering dales livestock farmers together regularly to provide information and advice. Some of the Government agencies have taken the opportunity to offer their help and advice and to listen to the difficulties that individuals have had to endure through what has been, and still is, a very difficult period in the livestock industry.

Communicate and inform - it's as simple as that!

PHILLIP HOLDEN MBE

Chairman, Rejuvenate

Galgate,

Barnard Castle.