Sir, - Councillors' expenses have always been, since they were introduced, the target for attack, particularly by people who have no idea how hard some members work.

To ridicule them for "always attending meetings" only, in my view, shows the lack of knowledge of what goes into being a councillor in the first place.

I have council representatives on my board from both Richmondshire and Hambleton and I have to say that for what little expenses they get, if they claim anything, their input is greatly valued.

I once recall elsewhere when I worked in a council that my chairman claimed every penny he was entitled to receive. He kept nothing for himself because his employer gave him time off to perform his duties and paid him as long as they were compensated by receiving his allowances and expenses. He always came top of the published league table of claimed expenses and I defended him publicly every year.

Having been a councillor myself in the late 60s, when no allowances were paid I can honestly say that with a growing family I had to think twice about attending everything.

Undertaking public work can be a thankless task. You are expected to represent your constituents, be ready to assist them in a multitude of things, but do it for nothing? Rubbish. By all means publish a list of expenses but all anomalies should be explained.

IAN CROWTHER

Business Solution-Bedale Ltd

Bridge Street,

Bedale.

Cavalier attitude

Sir, - May I add a brief note to your report "Don't raise precept to fund annexe, council told" (D&S, Sept 29).

Sowerby parish has one of the highest population densities of pensioners in the whole of England, many of whom are on limited incomes, and bleeding them further by a higher precept to fund the councillors' bar and coffee house annexe is not what the councillors were voted in for and which the Lottery commission quite rightly rejected.

Their cavalier and liberal attitude to have at their disposal other peoples' money should be exposed to full scrutiny of a public meeting.

This monstrous attempt to raise on the quiet £180,000 by stealth taxes should be noted by all Thirsk and Sowerby voters.

OLLY ANDRLA

South Terrace,

Sowerby,

Thirsk.

Sound building

Sir, - With reference to your front page report (D&S Sept 29), as an architect and a resident within the vicinity of Chesterfield House, Darlington, I too am disturbed at what the Darlington Building Society proposes.

My initial concern is with the demolition of buildings of architectural merit and apparent structural soundness. There must always be a strong case for such action especially when the site is within a conservation area.

The second matter is the potential effect of the proposed development on the locality. The value of the Stanhope Road conservation area is already offset by the fact that in practice it is essentially a public car park bedevilled by an excessive amount of through traffic of all types and sizes. Maintenance of roads and pavements is poor, the results most obvious in autumn and winter. The last thing the area needs is an intensively developed site creating even greater vehicular presence.

In the circumstances it would be reasonable to expect the building society to put forward proposals which retain and adapt the existing buildings while providing the site parking for residents' and visitors' cars.

J LE ROY

Langholm Crescent,

Darlington.

Pylon dangers

Sir, - Regarding the Revolt campaign against the National Grid building a line of pylons which will carry electricity from Teesside to York, nothing has been said about the cables that will connect the line of pylons.

The government quickly gave permission, without much thought for the consequences, except to supply the South of England with industrial and domestic electricity.

Revolt has no argument with that. But there are other ways of achieving that end, pylons and cables are an obsolete blot on the landscape. Cables between pylons are a hazard to the increase in aviation for the coming century. Helicopters and light aircraft already are in regular use as roads become more congested.

The government and the MoD should have foreseen this danger. How many are going to die caught up in this 50 mile net of electricity cables. If electricity is needed in the south it must be conveyed in an alternative way or produced where it is needed.

JOHN A TERRY

Old Smithy Cottage,

Marske,

Richmond.

(Headmaster, Kirkby in Cleveland school 1952-56