Sir, - The failure of the Yorkshire Dales national park authority, as highlighted in your columns, can be equally well matched by that of local planning authorities, and in particular Hambleton District Council.

This is a tired and weary department, stricken with institutional lethargy that tests the patience of even the most charitable applicant. To call it a planning department is actually a mistake for it never initiates a single application. Instead it relies on a rag bag of "drunken prophesies, libels and dreams" (known as the district wide local plan) before passively auditing applications which it then tortures by making them comply with an exhaustive list of excruciating dull planning restrictions. The result is compromise and mediocrity throughout the district.

For nearly a year I have been attempting to develop a prominent site in the middle of Thirsk market place. It is a building that has been derelict since the last war; behind it is wasteland, high in nettles. Any planning department worth a light would have seized this opportunity with both hands and done its best to co-operate positively with an application that would rid the town of an eyesore and at the same time would re-use a brownfield site.

I have had no such help. I have had not one positive or creative idea from Hambleton. Instead I have been crippled with the most inexcusable delay in dealing with even the tiniest aspect of the application. I have paid over £4,000 in planning fees. Any other group of professionals who provided such dismal service would have been sacked long ago.

This inefficiency should not be tolerated by either ratepayers or applicants. I contrast Hambleton's performance with that of neighbouring Ryedale. In March of this year I submitted a planning application which was before the committee within one month of the authority receiving it. Such rapid response is a world away from Hambleton.

If planning authorities are to remain as the only institutions which have jurisdiction over development control, then their competence, creativity and efficiency must match that of the companies and corporations which submit important planning applications. Economic prosperity depends on it.

PHILIP TATE

Merry Hall,

Boltby,

Thirsk.

See the Dome

Sir, - I visited the much criticised Dome a couple of weeks ago and in spite of the murderous comments which had issued from some parts of the media, my sister and I considered it fantastic. There was something of interest for all age groups. I liked Travel through the Ages the best. Quite a lot of it centred on the railways - Darlington and Stockton included - and there were some super railway engine models including the Flying Scotsman and the Mallard. Trixie liked Home Planet, where one takes an imaginary journey experiencing wonderful sights, places and natural phenomena, discovering what makes our planet Earth unique.

Dome staff, easily recognisable with their yellow coats, could not have been more helpful or polite. There were plenty of refreshments bars. Born in the North, we chose Harry Ramsden's fish and chips.

Throughout our day's visit, a high state of cleanliness was in evidence and the toilets were spotless. I made it my business to speak to many of the visitors of both sexes and all ages and never heard an adverse comment. The millennium show was good, though time did not allow us to see it all.

We went on an Anglian Railways' package deal from Bury St Edmund's which cost £28.50 each and included full return travel and entrance to the Dome.

To those who have not been to the Dome for one reason or another, may I say: Why not try to go and see it for yourself; soon it will be too late.

Rev JOHN DOUGLAS

Giles Close,

York Road,

Thirsk.

How do you do it?

Sir, - During this millennium year several North Yorkshire villages have produced commemorative history books celebrating the life of their local communities.

The Hackforth Millennium Association is currently compiling a similar book but as yet has not been successful in obtaining any funding to support this project.

Therefore I am writing on behalf of the committee, to ask anyone who has been involved in publishing a village book and has obtained a grant towards production costs, if they would contact me (tel 01748 818296) with advice about possible sources of finance and/or organisations to approach.

Mrs BARBARA J PEARSON

5 North Road

Hackforth

Bedale DL8 1NP