Sir, - I read with concern of Ms Morton's plan to recruit several fellow councillors to support the plan to pass a by-law for the centre of Leyburn to ban the drinking of alcohol there (D&S, Dec 21).

I have spoken to local police about this, and was told that these by-laws are really for large towns which have a serious after-hours drunkenness problem, usually among young people. To try to pass such a by-law for Leyburn is unnecessary and will be expensive.

Unnecessary because there are, at present, plenty of laws to control any rowdy or objectionable behaviour, whatever its cause. Expensive in money and time because I would like to think our councils and the police, who would be expected to enforce this, employ their resources on more important issues.

I have traditionally never been a Conservative voter and voted for Ms Morton not because of her politics but because, when she came to my house, I got the impression that she was an independent thinker.

I also feel that councils tend to be full of older people, mostly men, and she is neither of these. That will be the first and last time that 1 will vote Conservative.

Wake up, Ms Morton. Stand up for common sense and do not bring upon yourself the contempt that this plan is bringing you and your fellow councillors from many people in Leyburn.

HAZEL TOWNESEND

Vale Terrace,

Railway Street,

Leyburn.

Right behind you

Sir, - I refer to the article concerning Mr Snelling of Thirsk (D&S, Jan 18) who is having problems gaining access to his property on York Road, Thirsk, from the A170 due to a traffic island constructed by the highways department. I fully support Mr Snelling.

Since the nearby industrial estate was developed, traffic has increased tenfold. At the time the highways authority, North Yorkshire County Council, sent letters to affected residents to say traffic calming was to be introduced.

This was carried out with the installation of several traffic islands in the centre of the roadway (totally unnecessary) thus reducing traffic flow.

My contention is that as traffic has been dramatically increased in the area, the A170 should have been widened with a centre lane installed to allow traffic to turn right on to the industrial estate and allow the free flow of through traffic and from the A170 into Thirsk.

The highways department should demolish these offending traffic islands and bring the road into the 21st century not put it back to the middle ages.

T BARKER

Sutton Road,

Thirsk.

Not the first

Sir, - Your report (D&S, Jan 18) of a sunfish found on Marske beach was most interesting. However it is not the first time such a fish has been found in the North Sea.

I have a 1907 photo of a sunfish caught off Whitby. It is postcard no. 134 in a book Teesside and Old Cleveland Re-Visited in Old Picture Postcards by Robin Cook. So maybe it's not a sign of global warming afterall.

Mick Garratt

Roseberry Road,

Great Ayton.

So ignorant

Sir, - You report (D&S, Jan 18) that Scarborough Council is to close Eskdale toilets because they were not used in 2001 - the year the countryside was closed to the public anyway.

Scarborough councillors who are so ignorant of what has happened under their own noses have no business to be in office. Will they close town centre toilets in Scarborough, to save more money?

W A FORSTER

Wellington Mews,

Ripon.