Sir, - Over 50 young people attended the recent meeting of Northallerton Town Council to listen and take part in a debate about the proposed use of the Applegarth bonfire site as a skateboard park.

The youngest in our audience was just eight years of age (a future William Hague perhaps?). Many students attended and mature skaters too, bruised from skating and from their struggle to be heard yet still refusing to give up on their dream.

Sitting in respectful silence, the young people witnessed the political process unfold before them. Perhaps they had never watched the televising of Parliament as they did not jeer or shout abuse. Those speaking against the motion received the same courtesy as those speaking for it.

When the debate was opened a number of the young audience spoke eloquently, choosing not to blame but simply stating the frustrations and dangers of being a skating nomad.

So the time came for the vote. For many of the young people this would perhaps be a defining moment, their faith placed in the political process. They had played it by the book. They had listened and taken on board the advice of the adults around them. They had raised money for the park, they formed themselves into a committee and now, on a cold and damp Monday evening, they gathered to hear the outcome of their efforts.

Sadly it was not to be. The town council voted overwhelmingly against the motion. Knowing and having seen how a group of adults would react in the face of such disappointment I feared the worse but to their eternal credit the skaters stood as one and calmly walked out.

They returned to their adopted home of the Applegarth car park. Frustration and adrenalin took their skating to new heights. Then a young skater was almost knocked over as a vehicle left the car park at high speed.

The women I was with turned to me horrified asking: "Why doesn't someone do something?" One of the skaters told her: "Because they missed."

PAULA GREER TAYLOR (Youth arts manager), ANDY ELLIOT (Youth worker), TERRY BEGLEY (Community education officer)

North Yorkshire County Council.

We will listen

Sir, - I refer to recent reports and correspondence about skateboarding facilities in Bedale.

The High School governors are seeking, through their community education committee, to improve provision for young people in the area. Not only is it hoped to provide a skateboard park but also a drop-in centre, to employ a youth workers and to use a minibus to transport teenagers into Bedale in order to lessen the effects of rural isolation.

At present the committee is investigating several sites for skateboarding. As yet no one site has been identified as a preferred option. Should this change and a school site be favoured, then I can assure readers that any nearby residents will be given the chance to express their views should any statutory consultation procedure fail to give them that opportunity.

ARTHUR BARKER

(Chairman of governors, Bedale High School),

Burneston,

Bedale.

Beware horses

Sir, - I wonder how many readers are aware of a potential hazard on the roads which could cost them dear.

A few weeks ago I was driving along a road near my house when, approaching on the other side, I noticed a rider losing control of her horse.

I immediately slowed down and stopped. The house careered across the road into my car causing several hundred pounds worth of damage.

Naively, I assumed owners who took their horses on the public highway would be legally required to take out a form of third party insurance. This is not the case and I have been informed by local riders that very few owners bother insuring their horses.

Although my action saved injury, or indeed fatality, to both rider and horse, neither the girl's parents nor the horse's owner would accept responsibility. Consequently I had to pay the excess on my insurance, lost my no claim bonus and, in regard to future insurance policies, can now be deemed guilty of having caused an accident.

Recently I read about the "Drive with caution campaign" which seeks to "promote better awareness of horses among motorists and a change in the law to ensure drivers are legally required to slow down when passing horses on the road". Might I suggest that consideration be given to motorists by the horse-owing fraternity and that one of their priorities should be to ensure that before riders take their horses on to the public highway, insurance becomes a legal requirement. This would protect horse, rider and motorist.

As the law stands at the moment, and in the light of my experience, the best advice would appear to be, get past as quickly as possible!

GAIL SAUNDERS

Thornton Road,

Thornton,

Nr Middlesbrough.