Sir, - Your report on the proceedings of Egglescliffe Parish Council (D&S, June 27) states that, with respect to a planning application, "Councillor Rigg and other members felt that the close boarded fence was out of keeping ..."

At the beginning of the discussion of planning matters I stated that, as usual, any opinion I might express would be a preliminary one, and subject to possible change when the full details are known at planning committee.

I did this, as I do at every parish council meeting, because in my role as a borough councillor I sit on Stockton Borough Council planning committee and must be very careful not to fetter my discretion before meetings.

Unfortunately this did not come across in the report, and members of the public reading the report could be forgiven for thinking that I had already made up my mind.

I realise that the question of fettering discretion is probably not something your reporters normally need worry about, but it is important in this situation and I should be grateful if the report could be corrected.

COUN MAUREEN RIGG

Member of Egglescliffe Parish Council and Stockton Borough Council

Worthy causes

Sir, - There can be few families in Richmondshire who at some time have not been or will be involved closely with either the Friarage Hospital at Northallerton, the Friary Hospital at Richmond or the Memorial Hospital at Darlington.

I have therefore chosen the group of Friends of each of these hospitals to share my chairman's charity this civic year, as Chairman of the Richmondshire District Council.

Besides any functions which I am able to organise, I wonder if you would like to organise an activity independently, in aid of this particularly local charity from which all our citizens might well benefit at some time.

It would be helpful to let us know what you are planning, and any proceeds or other donations would be most gratefully received by the Chairman's Secretary, Swale House, Frenchgate, Richmond, DL10 4BR, by the end of April next year.

I will be delighted to acknowledge personally such contributions.

COUN MICHAEL HESELTINE

Chairman of Richmondshire District Council

Mayfield,

Scorton.

Thanks to all

Sir, - I would like to express my sincere gratitude to members and employees of Richmondshire District Council who supported and helped me in my year of office as chairman.

My thanks go also to the Rev Tim Tunley, my chaplain for the year, and the Rev David Gregson, who kindly helped when Tim was unable to attend.

My heartfelt appreciation goes to all in the district and further afield who helped raise the magnificent sum of £3,116 towards my two chosen charities, the North Yorkshire branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association and Northallerton and District Diabetic Association.

To each and everyone of you, including Reeth Brass Band, Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Parish Choir with accompanist Margaret Harker, Accidental Harmony, George Lundberg, the two brass ensembles, Mike Hardman, Michael Blenkiron, Mark Walters, my granddaughter - Lucy Lundberg, the CB Inn, Arkengarthdale chapel, the churchwardens at both St Mary's Church, Arkengarthdale, and St Andrew's Church, Grinton, many, many thanks. It is you who have raised this magnificent sum.

As a lover of music and with a vast amount of musical talent in my ward I was able to make the theme of my charity events My Ward Entertains.

Finally, thank you to all who helped make this last year so wonderful for Jennifer and me. It has been a genuine honour to serve the district through my ward.

COUN JAMES KENDALL

Woodyard,

Reeth.

Towns survey

Sir, - What's special about your local town? CPRE - recently renamed the Campaign to Protect Rural England - is concerned that many market towns across the country are losing their individual character as national chains push out the local retailers, "identikit" housing estates spring up around them and traditional markets make way for car parks.

So we're carrying out a survey, but we're not relying on consultants - we want real people to tell us what they think, what they like and what they dislike about their local town. If you want to take part, just get in touch with me, and I'll send you our survey form - or you can just write about your town and the surrounding countryside in your own words.

I think that our market towns in the North-East still keep much of their character, but I'm not sure we know or value what we've got. Let me know what you think.

NIC BEST

CPRE regional policy officer

57 Olympia Gardens,

Morpeth.