Sir, - For the past 15 years, my wife and self have lived to the south of Bedale. This has entailed both of us travelling into Bedale and back an average of 15-16 times per week through the area known as South End. At no time during this period have we encountered any difficulty due to the congestion of traffic.

It would be criminal for North Yorkshire County Council or Hambleton District Council to use the £10,000 donated by Persimmon Homes for widening and installing traffic calming measures along this stretch.

It is obvious that the main problem is and still will be caused by the congestion of traffic at the White Bear crossroads. No amount of traffic calming in South End will help towards this.

If a bypass around Bedale is prohibitive because it will cost millions of pounds; surely the £60,000 project of installing computerised traffic lights is but a drop in the ocean. After all, this is only a week's wage to one of our so-called football stars.

B W WOODS

Brookside Avenue,

Bedale.

A balanced view

Sir, - Like Nicholas Rhea, my claim to land ownership is confined to a patch of garden and I have never hunted, so I read with interest his Countryman's Diary (D&S, Dec 29).

I reckon it is the most balanced view of the hunting issue yet produced.

On the same page there was an account of the Farndale reservoir scheme of 1967-1971, when attempts were made to change our countryside, but were defeated despite the Bill passing through a second reading in Parliament and having strong support from the minister concerned.

An article on the subject in The Northern Echo was circulated to every member of both Houses. May I express the hope that you will send copies of Nicholas Rhea's article to the present members of both Houses - and quickly!

R C DALES

Church View,

Brompton,

Northallerton.

Misinformed

Sir, - I refer to Nicholas Rhea's latest ramblings (Countryman's Diary, D&S Jan 5) regarding caravaning and caravans, in particular caravans in Rosedale.

His biased and sadly misinformed views about sums up his outdated attitudes. He should stick to his usual subject matter - obscure saints, obscure words and their meanings and sightings of obscure birds, and not enter into reasonable discussions without something of a constructive nature to say, as everyone else concerned would seem to be attempting to take a balanced view of the problem.

Yes, even caravanner's who contrary to his views do care very much about his "private" countryside. There have been caravans on this site since he had a whistle and bicycle clips on.

DAVID BATEN

Wainstones Drive,

Easby Lane,

Great Ayton.

The majority will

Sir, - I refer to your article headed 'Forget foxes, think humans' (D&S Jan 5) regarding the Countryside Alliance's pro-hunting publicity campaign in London.

For the majority of people in this country it is not a question of animals or humans, they are more than capable of having compassion for both, as is demonstrated by the amount of money donated to all types of charities; the government is merely trying to carry out their wishes.

VIVIENNE MILLER

Town Green Drive,

Great Broughton.

Sir, - I see the Countryside Alliance is making a big play of its campaign to retain fox-hunting (D&S, Jan 5). It argues that the government should use the time allotted to it by Parliament to deal with improvements in the conditions for humans and forget about foxes.

My position is that law should be based on the will of the majority of the members we elect to the House of Commons. It should not be possible for that majority to be frustrated by it being talked out by a fillibuster in the Commons as happened when the abolition of fox hunting went forward as a private members bill. The elected members should not be frustrated by the House of Lords.

The Government has acted honourably on this. It has set up a committee of inquiry. This committee heard representations from all sides and it made a report which all members of parliament have had the opportunity to read.

When they come to vote on the matter in a free vote I would say that this should be the end of the matter.

GEOFFREY BULMER

Elton Road,

Billingham