Sir, - I hope that you will allow me to reply to Coun S. Parsons' letter "This is personal" (D&S, Nov 10).

I do not have a personal crusade against Coun Anne Frizzell, However, I do have a personal crusade against party politics in parish/town councils in general and in Richmond Town Council in particular.

I agree with Coun Parsons that ladies were enfranchised early last century, and that equality of opportunity is paramount. He should have taken his research further. In 1932 the first lady mayor of Richmond was elected by her fellow councillors. During the period 1932-1994, 20 ladies were elected to the office of mayor, all of them were honoured and proud to be addressed as Mr Mayor.

The election of the 21st lady by a Liberal Democrat-controlled council abolished the 350-year-old tradition, sacrificed on the altar of misplaced feminine liberalism and political correctness. A great town clerk of the last century, David Brooks, described the responsibilities of a council and its clerk as follows:

"They are the administrators of its present, the planners of its future, but above all they are the guardians of its past.

The observance and protection of all its ancient traditions and privileges is what makes the town of Richmond unique.

Having had the honour of serving Richmond as its town clerk, an office I was proud to hold for 12 years, I find it hilarious that Coun Parsons, a councillor with no training and very limited experience in local government administration, should invite me to a council meeting to see what they do?

I witnessed at first hand the rise of party politics in the council chamber and I still maintain that it is to the detriment of good local government. While I agree that councils must be useful tools of local government, they must not become the useless tools of party hacks of whatever persuasion.

ALAN M WILCOX

High Riding,

Richmond.

Beware inspectors

Sir, - If ever there was a case of misrepresentation it is the Audit Commission's inspection report on Richmondshire District Council's tourism service (D&S, Nov 24).

Having read it and attended the committee meeting in the public gallery to listen to the debate, it was difficult not to add my own voice to what was said.

What was gratifying was the unanimous support by the councillors to the officers' undoubted success and professionalism in every thing they do. I have worked alongside tourism officers in other district councils and since my arrival in the area, earlier this year, I have been immensely impressed at the work they undertake, so much so I volunteered to help man their stand at the Yorkshire Show.

You could have reported statistics from the officers' own covering report. Visitors up 209pc, postal enquiries up 737pc and telephone inquiries up 206pc at the Leyburn TIC. Actions to improve their performance even more have already been implemented, very much in line with what best value is all about.

Moral: beware of inspectors who admit they know nothing about tourism! Is the Audit Commission on a crusade to close many of them down when they do such a thing to Richmondshire, one of the best?

IAN CROWTHER

Business Solutions,

Bedale.