Sir, - May I use your columns to vent my frustration borne out of a recent shopping experience in a local Tesco supermarket?

I had commented that the imported (Danish) bacon was actually cheaper than the equivalent home produced product, and wondered why that should be. The young assistant on the delicatessen counter replied that "British farmers want too much for their meat - and they are subsidised up to their eyeballs anyway!"

As a farmer's daughter and a farmer's wife, I was totally aghast at this statement, knowing, as I do, just how little money is being made by primary producers. It seemed all the more galling that this comment was being made by an employee of our biggest "grocery" chain, a significant force in the market place, having considerable influence on the prices we receive for our animals and produce.

I made a complaint to the store manager, and was satisfied with the apology I received.

However, I am left to reflect on just how many people unconnected with farming hold similarly distorted views about the economics of British agriculture. Has our general public grown so far out of touch with countryside realities that they have forgotten the reason for introducing farm subsidies in the first place - to guarantee plentiful supplies of good, wholesome, home-produced food at the cheapest possible prices?

In other words, the subsidies began as consumer benefits, with farmers being mere intermediaries. So successful was this policy in the post-1945 era, that it is now taken for granted that food will be available, safe, nutritious, and most of all cheap.

We never contemplate shortages - food is plentiful, Unfortunately, the costs associated with food production are rising all the time, not as a consequence of inflation, but because of the increasing burden of legislation and bureaucracy brought about to assure consumers that what they buy is safe, nutritious, etc.

Even if consumers prefer to cat meat etc from abroad in preference to British food products, I am sure you will want to see "good management" of the countryside. Who is going to do this work? Who is going to pay for it?

"Agricultural subsidies" should not be thought of as hand outs to farmers, they provide all of us with real benefits and by and large give us good value for money.

Mrs C THWAITES

West Shaw Cote,

Askrigg,

Leyburn.

Valuable building

Sir, - I refer to Mr A E Reid's letter (D&S, Nov 3) regarding the overwhelming rejection of the final planning application for Tesco's Northallerton store extension, in particular his comments about the Methodist chapel.

The main building was erected in 1889 making it well and truly Victorian, not Victorian-Edwardian. And to my knowledge it has never been used to store old cars. I doubt if it's even seen a Dinky toy.

The chapel was built by the Primitive Methodists, an honest and pragmatic breed. Honest enough to accept that their religious zeal might not always succeed, and if so pragmatic enough to build their chapels with a basic structure that could, if needed, be sold and converted into living accommodation or for other uses. Since being closed and sold in 1964 the Northallerton chapel has fulfilled this intention. Being structurally basic and not having the ornate features of some other denominations does not make it an eyesore.

Nor does it make it a candidate for being demolished. The "Prims" made a significant contribution to Northallerton's history (and not just in the religious field) and the chapel stands proud to reflect this.

Also, it is in a conservation area that is obviously highly thought of by the Hambleton planning committee.

Though not a local worthy, I am Northallerton-born and concerned about the preservation of the town's heritage and conservation areas. I accept that not all Alvertonians agree with my concerns

But surely Mr Reid is joking if he thinks that buildings which are Victorian, basic, made of brick, or have satellite dishes, should be demolished just because their very existence will affect planning applications. If he isn't, then a lot of Northallerton's residents and High Street shop-owners better take note.

Mr D I HALSEY

Avondale Road,

Haydock,

Lancs.

Rail question

Sir, - I recently read of a proposal made about 1881 to build a railway from Skipton to Kettlewell and Aysgarth and, although it never materialised, I would like to know more of its proposed route, who proposed it and what were the reasons for it never coming into being.

Can any of your readers assist with such information?

ALISTAIR F NISBET

6 Octavian Way,

Brackley,

Northants NN13 7BL.