IF Harry Mead's column (Echo, July 31) can use the foot-and-mouth inquiry reports so selectively to harangue farmers, I suggest his moral integrity should be questioned.

The ten most important findings by the Royal Society did not criticise farmers.

Some important factors ignored by Harry's rant were: EU regulations forced closure of many small local abattoirs; farmers who are being so hard pressed financially have had to cut labour and use dealers to buy stock for them; farmers have moved stock many miles to auctions even from the days when they walked them on foot.

Among the 'forest' of regulations causing such frustration, added work, and financial cost, the crippling 20-day rule needs most urgently rectifying, especially when four other potential causes are evident and not dealt with.

Harry might wish to know that it is only the NFU, in its wish not to cause inconvenience and offence to the public, which is stopping farmers from taking the law into their own hands on this and so many other crucial issues. - J Heslop, Gainford.

HARRY Mead's column (Echo, July 31) demonstrated a lack of understanding and a lack of appreciation of the way nature has worked for centuries.

Traditionally, lambs and calves are born in the spring in the uplands and are moved to lowland areas in the autumn where there is food to fatten them for market. Upland stock are also used to replenish breeding stock in lowland areas. This system has existed for literally centuries, as can be seen from the old drovers' roads which criss-cross our area.

While we agree with many of the recommendations contained in the Anderson report, the NFU is concerned about the interference in this traditional practice where farmers could be stopped from replacing their breeding stock because of the 20-day livestock standstill rule. The replacement of breeding stock is a crucial part of the breeding cycle and the continued movement restrictions could have long-term consequences on the industry.

The NFU is pressing for a system of isolation for new stock on the farm which is what the Government has allowed in Scotland. Without this, the fragile recovery of the rural economy will be seriously threatened. - John Seymour, Chairman of the NFU Parliamentary Committee and NFU Council Delegate for North Riding & Durham.

RABY CASTLE

I AM sorry to read M Elliott's views (HAS, July 29) on a potential visit to the Raby Castle tearooms. I fully understand the points that were raised in paying an admittance charge to visit the tearooms, which are in the grounds of Raby Castle. On the face of it, it may seem a little unfair. However, there are several reasons for this policy.

Firstly, the two-fold pricing policy, which was introduced to give visitors a choice, is as follows: 1 Castle, Park and Gardens; 2 Park and Gardens only.

Past experiences have influenced the admittance policy. There has been the odd occasion where a visitor has been allowed free entry to visit the tearooms and has then proceeded, not only to utilise the tearooms, but to have a view of the gardens as well.

The brief explanations above will hopefully give justification for our actions. We have also contacted M Elliot to offer our apology for any inconveniences caused. - Catherine Turnbull, Marketing Supervisor, Raby Castle, Staindrop.

CLEVELAND POLICE

LAST Friday morning I attended, briefly, as a member of the public, the meeting of the Cleveland Police Authority which was debating whether or not Chief Constable Barry Shaw should be disciplined following a statement by an inquiry into allegations that he had sought to discredit Ray Mallon and a female police clerk by circulating false rumours of a sexual liaison.

The chairman of the Cleveland Police Authority, Councillor Ken Walker, opened the meeting saying that a Local Government Act said the public had no right to attend the meeting and should therefore be excluded.

Legal counsel present disagreed with his interpretation of the Act, saying that "may" does not mean "must". The authority therefore had discretion.

The chairman proposed and it was seconded that the public should be excluded. Not one hand was raised in support.

Without asking for votes against, Councillor Walker then said that his motion had been carried and the public were told to leave.

In all my years as a lecturer in public administration and as chairman of trade union meetings, I have never known a decision to have been made in such a strange fashion.

This travesty should not go unreported. - Bert Ward, Middlesbrough.