Sir, - On the July 20, the government will announce that all footpaths are open in accordance with the DEFRA guidelines issued on 23rd May 2001 so you may be forgiven for thinking that the FMD crisis is over.

Those of us who live and work in upper Wensleydale, know that this is fiction and that we are in fact little further forward than we were in March when the crisis began. There are new cases in North Yorkshire and Cumbria every day and as has always been the case we are expected to carry on as best we can, attempting to make a living whether our businesses are farm related or not, in very difficult trading conditions.

Here in upper Wensleydale we have been suffering the economic, social and emotional effects of the crisis since the beginning of March. At that time with the footpaths closed we suffered a downturn in visitor numbers and a host of cancellations.

In a period when in better times we would be receiving the bulk of our reservations for the coming season the telephone was silent and it has not started to ring again yet. Now as we move into the summer things are actually worse, visitor numbers are way down on previous years, our local TIC recorded a downturn of visitors of 70pc in June compared with a similar period last June and local statistics collected monthly have consistently shown a downturn of over 50pc across a wide range of businesses levels which are unsustainable over long periods.

I personally do not think that the opening of footpaths alone is going to be enough to salvage anything like enough business to make up for what has been lost but coupled with an aggressive advertising campaign in those areas where re opening is a possibility it will surely help to attract visitors back. In areas such as ours we can only be further disadvantaged as footpaths re-open elsewhere and visitors go there.

The footpath issue has been a particularly difficult one with the whole community on one hand wanting to see an end to the crisis and on the other being forced to promote their businesses.

As DEFRA shows its hand and the rules are made public it becomes clear that the low level paths in upper Wensleydale will not be open much before the end of the year and the tourism businesses which underpin the local economy will continue to suffer in to 2002.

Surely the time has arrived for central government to support these rural communities still being so badly affected by providing a financial package which ensures that businesses survive through to a time when we can once again promote the Yorkshire Dales as a visitor destination which is fully open and post FMD.

PAMELA HAGUE

Vice-chairman, Upper Wensleydale Business Association.

Ignorance

Sir, - You have had letters from hotels, guest houses and shops implying that farmers get compensation for foot-and-mouth but they themselves do not. Perhaps if the government forces them to sell their furniture at valuation then burn it, or smashed all their crockery and buried it, they would have a case.

That would be the end of the compensation. Then they would have to disinfect their premises rigorously, probably have to dig up and relay all their driveway and surrounds. Then they would be told that they could not have any more guests/customers for a period of six months - after a date yet to be announced.

I do so wish that people who go to live in the countryside would make some effort to find out about farming and what makes the countryside tick. I do also wish that farming had a decent public relations organisation.

Twice on Question Time, David Dimbleby stated that many Labour MPs were relishing the foot-and-mouth disease. The tourist industry is having a rough time but at least they don't have to put up with this ignorance.

DAVID CRUMMACK

Sinnington,

York.

A rocky road

Sir, - I would like to complain bitterly on behalf of myself and all the other residents of Thirsk about the shocking state of the footpaths around the market place.

At a recent public meeting in Thirsk Town Hall, I suggested that part of the £1m due to be spent to invigorate the town would be wisely invested in getting rid of the old stone slabs.

I am sorry to say that my suggestion went down like a lead balloon.

Isn't it strange how the people who rarely use the old market town wish to retain that so-called old world charm. As if we didn't have enough to put up with, with the cobbled market place that the old squire endowed us with for the next 100 years.

My wife's wheel-chair is taking a real hammering, and if nothing happens soon, we will have to visit other towns to carry out our shopping.

So much for progress.

Mr J P LASSEY

Bagby,

Thirsk.