Sir, - Further to Mr Naylor's letter (D&S Feb 2), I would like to put the record straight both for Mr Naylor's benefit, but also the council tax payers of Northallerton.

The decision to discontinue the use of the town hall toilets to market traders and members of the public on market days was the decision of the town hall management committee and had nothing to do with the amenities committee. Coun Steve Merritt was a member of the town council but resigned his position in June 2000.

Mr Naylor should be aware that the council tax he pays does not go towards the upkeep of the town hall. This for the most part comes from hire fees and rents paid by the shop tenants. It is the district council, who after all, as well as collecting the council tax also collect the market rents and whose profits exceeded £80,000 last year.

The town hall toilets are for the use of the town hall hirers and the shop tenants as well as council employees.

The town council did try to negotiate a realistic rent with the district council for the use of the toilet facilities but the district council would not pay more than £10 per market day, the equivalent of £1.20 per hour and this was to cover all provisions such as toilet paper, soap etc.

When the town council reviewed the situation we found that the £10 per day did not cover the increased water rates and it was, therefore, reluctantly agreed that together with the inconvenience to hirers, shop tenants and staff as well as the wear and tear on the building, the current arrangement could not be continued.

The question also arises that under normal circumstances would the district council's environmental health department allow any other business in Northallerton to function with one gents cubicle and two urinals plus two ladies cubicles for in excess of one hundred users on market days? I very much doubt it.

Ultimately it is the district council's problem and one which they have been unable to resolve for a number of years.

Mrs SHEILA GIBBINS

Clerk to the Council,

Northallerton Town Council,

Town Hall.

Northallerton.

Whose fault?

Sir, - As a result of what can only be described as incompetent financial management, Teesdale District Council finds itself in a less than healthy fiscal position.

And if reports over the last week in the local press are correct, the council appears to have adopted an approach of increasing charges on the local community to try and gain a little more financial stability.

An increase of 6pc in council tax, an increase in car parking charges in Barnard Castle, and to add insult to injury, they are not only increasing charges on those of us still here, but they are also increasing charges on those who are no longer with us, with a wide range of increases on fees payable in relation to funeral and burial services. I would imagine this is just the start of the drive to increase the balances in the council coffers.

The question we should be asking now is, who is responsible for the current situation and how was the council's finances managed in such a way to as allow this poor financial situation to arise? Answers not increases, that is what we want. Why should the people of Teesdale have to bail out the council because of its own incompetence?

PAUL KANE

The Hude,

Middleton in Teesdale.

Not just darkness

Sir, - As the Editor of Clarion News, I was intrigued by Nancy Murgatroyd's letter spinning good news into bad (D&S Feb 2 ). She believes Clarion News only reports the darker side of Richmondshire District Council.

One aim of Clarion News is to alert the public on a variety of issues, including the good and not so good about the district council, as regular readers are aware.

That councillors, elected by ratepayers to see the council run properly, choose to ignore or obstruct justice and integrity, can hardly complain when the paymasters' activities are challenged and exposed.

For democracy, my colleagues and I, in and outside of Clarion News, will neither shut up or go away.

Richmondshire District Council could improve its own image by lifting the ban on their press releases being given to Clarion News - all of them - and allow conscientious officers to use Clarion News when it would be to the benefit of the public.

Coun TONY PELTON

Editor, Clarion News,

High Green,

Catterick.

More Letters to the Editor on page 2