Sir, - Well said, David Price (D&S letters, May 4) regarding the attitude of Thirsk town councillors towards the town hall annexe fiasco. In my opinion, most of them do not care about anyone else or the town of Thirsk and as for Coun Marshall's attitude and comments, well it goes to show where her loyalties lie - and it is not with the ratepayers of Thirsk.

Could Thirsk council have not sent out the tenders and chosen the builders? They should at least have had the decency to insist on local builders being invited to tender for the work.

Thirsk Town Council must waste more money then any other. Are the ratepayers of Thirsk aware of the cemetery superintendent being made redundant and the work being put out to contract? How much money was wasted on newspaper recruitment adverts?

It was Coun Roger Hall who stated, and assured me in your newspaper of 23 July, 2000, that a new superintendent was being appointed and would do 16 hours of grass cutting a week (what a U-turn). What's going to happen to the cemetery lodge? Who's going to be responsible for the security of the cemetery? No doubt Coun Hall and Co will come up with some bright idea.

Did Thirsk council not spend a four-figure sum on a new grass cutter not many months ago? And now it is to be sold, no doubt at a loss, but it's not their money.

I am pleased for Thirsk in its success at winning the regeneration money, but have no faith in the way this council will spend it. After all, this is the council that has increased the precept for Thirsk this year by 50pc and what will we have to show for it?

REG HORNER

Herriot Way,

Thirsk.

Local difference

Sir, - A little less than one hour after reading Mr Mike O'Carrolls' letter on the Friarage (D&S, May 11) and the point about being local making a difference, I heard about an elderly Richmond widow who since last December has been making the soul destroying 32-mile round trek by bus to Northallerton to visit her son, seriously injured in an accident.

While the Hambleton and Richmondshire PCT group of ex-Friarage managers, executives and administrative retinue occupy first class ward accommodation in what was the Duchess of Kent's military hospital, this 33-year old, as I understand it, is accommodated in an old Friarage ward full of geriatric patients - and a 32-mile round trip from home, friends and relatives.

As Hambleton's gain is so patently at the expense of Richmond and the Garrison's loss, perhaps Mr O'Carroll, when fully recovered, might care to join the fight to reinstate our local hospital?

RON F ASHBRIDGE

1 Lyons Road,

Richmond.

Constant vigilance

Sir, - Two correspondents (J Daglish and W E Forster) recently raised the question (D&S, May 4)of research into foot-and-mouth disease, the latter writer assuming that no research had been carried out during the last 30 years.

How ignorant we all are. I also knew nothing much about foot-and-mouth until last January when I met someone who was working in a research laboratory in Surrey on foot-and-mouth and who was travelling to other European countries in the course of this research.

We have the Institute for Animal Health (Pirbright laboratory) in the UK which is designated the world reference laboratory for foot-and-mouth by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). The European Commission for the control of foot-and-mouth had been closely involved with what happened here. Joint meetings called by MAFF from the beginning of the epidemic included many other experts as well as Britain's chief veterinary officer, the chief scientific adviser to the government and the chairman of the Food Standards Agency.

This can hardly be called making "policy on the hoof", quoting Dr Forster's disrespectful and inappropriate jibe about MAFF in his letter. There has been consistent vigilance and research into foot-and-mouth ever since the last UK outbreak 30 years ago.

MS E M WHITTAKER

Mile Planting,

Richmond.

Where were you?

Sir, - With reference to the letter (D&S, May 4) concerning the proposed closure of the Gold Cup public house at Nether Silton, how I agree with the writer.

Where were these 150 protesters when the landlord needed them most? After all it was the landlord losing money, not them.

If they feel that strongly about the closure, why don't they donate £1,000-£1,500 each and buy the pub and run it as a co-operative.

This could be the way forward for a lot of small village public houses and shops.

D R LAWTON

Three Tuns Wynd,

Stokesley.

Wicked?

Sir, - I am a newcomer to the Richmond area and greatly enjoy its many charms, not least the D&S which compares favourably with most local newspapers.

So, imagine my horror to see your headline on page 21 last Friday, "It's well crucial info on how to save your life." Is this your contribution to the dumbing down of England - or has Ali G taken over editorial control?

I think we should be told!

MARTIN VALLANCE

Brompton Grange,

River Lane,

Brompton-on-Swale,

Richmond.