Sir, - Recent emotive comments by some Richmond councillors about the need to have a skateboard area in Ronaldshay Park have to be seen as not representing all views. The lack of reporting of alternative ideas needs to be rectified.

As the councillors for the ward, which includes Ronaldshay Park, we have not indulged in detailed debate over a period of time. We know of no public meetings on this issue and nor any opportunity to invite interested groups.

There seems to have been a sudden injection of enthusiasm by interested parties to get this project through before the end of the financial year. Our positions as ward councillors allow us to speak to many people and our feelings are in agreement with the majority.

We oppose the siting of a skateboard area in Ronaldshay Park but support a skateboard area in the designated leisure area of the old railway station. We also support the idea of officially approaching Richmond School to ask if it would consider siting a skateboard area within the school grounds.

A skateboard area in Ronaldshay Park will adversely affect a peaceful park. Primary concern should be given to the patients in the Friary Hospital. Their medical conditions will not be helped by the noise generated by skateboards and their owners.

It is said that the skateboard area's surface can be made less noisy, but we are not convinced of this. The area where families can enjoy the park's facilities will be affected by the reduction in space to accommodate the skateboard area. Vandalism will continue to be a problem.

A survey of children who use the park has indicated that they would be prepared to go wherever the facility for skateboarding was placed. The majority questioned had no problems with a skateboard area being located in school grounds.

We are not anti-youth or anti-skateboard. We support a skateboard area in Richmond, preferably mobile and easily dismantled for maximum area locations. The siting of a skateboard area in Ronaldshay Park would be a retrograde step. The people of Richmond need to know that their representatives in council are in step with public opinion on this matter. There must be public debate on such an important issue-

Couns DAVID JOHNSON, LINDA CURRAN, CLIVE WORLD, OLIVER BLEASE

Richmond.

Skate site found

Sir, - We write to update readers on our efforts to establish a dedicated skateboard park for the young people of Northallerton and surrounding area.

A steering group including local councillors, aid officers, the community safety partnership, police, parents, and skateboarders has been actively considering various local sites other than the ones considered previously, and resolved to approach Hambleton District Council and Allertonshire School to assess the possibility of developing the piece of land alongside the leisure pool.

We are pleased to confirm that Hambleton's cabinet and Allertonshire School both recently approved the schematic proposals with the added bonus that the council also approved a grant of £5,000 towards the project.

We sincerely appreciate these positive moves forward and thank them accordingly.

We are well aware that there is still a long way to go before the aim is achieved with planning and financial matters to address. However we now have a solid base to develop

The main driver of the project is the necessary safety considerations of the young people. Although the proposed site is not in a central location, we believe that young people will be able to enjoy their sport in safety with parents assured that lighting and supervision will be in place.

Finally, we would appreciate the comments of other interested local parents and young people so that all opinions can be directed to the steering group to achieve the best possible facility and, of course, help with fundraising.

Coun TONY HALL

Meadow Close,

Coun DAVID BLADES

Bullamoor Road,

Northallerton.

Cunning plan

Sir, - So now the cunning plan of Richmondshire District Council is exposed (D&S Mar1).

First obtain a lottery grant to refurbish the former railway station, then increase rent to extortionate level, thus compromising position of current tenant, who has operated successfully, serving the local community for 25 years.

Force him to quit, then flog off site to developer to raise finance to purchase smart new offices for senior executives at Colburn. Snag! The bright ones who dreamt up this little scheme, either forgot or didn't know that sale of the site would mean the return of a major portion of the lottery grant. Wake up Richmond.

C J WATSON

The Gables,

Gilling West.