Sir, - I read with interest the excellent article relating to Carol Lewis (D&S, Jan 18), who has recently been working for the Two Dales Partnership as a community development worker in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale.

This partnership has worked hard for the past two years to raise funds from a number of sources to improve the economic and social life of this area, where many essential services such as transport, post offices and shops are often under threat, and other desirable amenities for sport and other social activities for both young and older people are often sadly lacking.

In Mrs Lewis, the partnership has clearly found an excellent person to promote this work. It is all the more regrettable therefore that, when the bulk of funding has been promised to the partnership for three years, that funds from the Government's regeneration budget for this area has only been promised for one year. If this happens all the good work that has been started will virtually be stopped in its tracks, and the funding promised from the other bodies for the remaining two years will be lost.

An appeal is due to be heard on January 28 when it is hoped that common sense will prevail and this decision will be changed. Any further publicity that you can give to this issue will be very much appreciated.

ELIZABETH BERRY

Back Lane,

Reeth.

Sir, - Your article about the Two Dales Partnership (D&S Jan 18)was timely and instructive. What are we to do to make "them" understand the crucial importance of supporting the continuing work of Carol Lewis, community development worker?

I recently wrote a brief history of Gunnerside Methodist chapel, highlighting the fact that such a large chapel was needed for the local population in the 1850s.

No sooner was it built, however, than the population halved within a decade as a result of leadmine closures and lack of jobs. People have continued to move away ever since. A third of houses in Gunnerside are second homes or holiday cottages.

If this gradual seepage continues, and young people have no job prospects or reasonable mobility for social or educational purposes, who will be living in Gunnerside in another decade or two? And Keld, and Thwaite, and Muker, and Langthwaite?

The hills may be everlasting, but they shelter some very fragile communities. Carol Lewis is there to draw together the goodwill of all the people of the two dales, and the thought of losing both her services, and the European money attached in some complicated manner, is outrageous.

I hope that your newspaper continues to support the battle.

SYLVIA CROOKES

Bainside,

Bainbridge.

Sir, - I was very interested to read an article on the recent appointment of Mrs C Lewis to the post of new community development officer for the two dales of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale. The two dales are indeed very fortunate to have such an experienced, organised and motivated lady to help local people in the communities to gain funding for services and improvements that are desperately needed.

Although I am a relative newcomer to the area, I have chosen to work here, and I am already very aware of the lack of facilities and services on offer. I was very interested to read about proposed future projects such as access to computer training which would be of interest to many small businesses and self employed people like me.

You can imagine my utter dismay when I read further into the article and saw the problems concerning the Government's single regeneration budget only providing one year of funding to a three year post. After all the hard work put in by the Two Dales Partnership to secure three years of funding from the EU and elsewhere, it is disgraceful that the GSRB will now jeopardise the future of this post, and "secured funding" will have to be retained because of the shortfall.

Mrs Lewis has achieved so much in a very short time span, so imagine just what could be achieved for the two dales in three years.

This appointment, in my opinion, is vital to give "hope" to a hardworking community which has had to endure enough disappointment during the past 12 months, and now deserves the help and support this post can provide. I therefore ask that your newspaper gives maximum publicity to this story and maybe the outcome of the appeal on January 28, 2002, will be a happy one. £5,000 per year seems a small price to pay to help a community gain a decent future.

V WYNCOLL

West Scrafton,

Nr Leyburn.

Sir, - I write as a resident of the dales, having read your interesting article last week. This project is just what the two dales need.

The prospect, however, of losing regeneration funds already obtained from Europe is appalling, and I hope this issue will be given as much publicity as possible.

SHELAGH THOMLINSON

Stanley Gill House,

Gunnerside.