“Without this licence it is a criminal offence that could result in a maximum fine of £5,000 or six months in prison.”

Now wouldn't it be lovely if other minor crimes where treated with such enthusiasm.
Let's see,

Littering, cycling on pavements, shoplifting, burglary, foul language, under-age smoking, under-age drinking, under-age sex.... where does one stop, crime is now the norm rather than the exception.

I would certainly do without a few black-headed gulls, rooks, starlings, cormorants, for a bit more enthusiasm for proper crime.

Mind you, I suppose that would need a "Craven Litter Crime Officer" and a "Craven Cycling Crime Officer" and a "Craven Shoplifting Crime Officer" and a "Craven Burglary Crime Officer" and a "Craven Foul Language Crime Officer" and a "Craven under-age smoking Crime Officer" and a "Craven under-age drinking Crime Officer" and a "Craven under-age Sex Crime Officer" and a "Craven Those Who Can't Afford To Pay Their Rates Crime Officer"

Having visited the Dales in the fall of 1997, my wife and I were suprised by a few things. First we noticed that there were no screens on the windows of our B&B in Thirsk. Second, as we walked around there seemed to be very few insects of any kind. And third we also noticed that there were few birds around. As is pointed out in your article, they are all connected. Good to see that something is being done to correct this. Oh, and by the way we fell in love with the Dales, and for all of these years have kept up our subscription to the Dalesman. Great story, keep it up!

Ever thought of blaming the money grabbing pub companies (more like real estate companies) such as Enterprise and Punch for the demise of the pub? Many of which were created as a result of the last Tory government's reform of the pub industry. We can't blame out current govt for people wanting to drink less because as a whole we are becoming heathier. We also can't blame the govt for bad weather resulting in the increase in raw materials. And no, I'm not a Labour supporter, I just believe in looking at all angles.

My wife and I are totally in agreement with Bill Bryson, we have a beauty business in Urmston town centre and due to an increasing number of take aways and many local bars opening we have seen a vast increase in litter and have to clean up our immediate area of take away polystyrene trays and cups almost every morning as well as beer cans and food waste thrown onto the pavement. Not long ago a car pulled up on Stretford Road, the contents of the waste bin and cigarette tray empied out on the grass verge before it quickly sped off in the opposite direction - What kind of mentality have these people got?

We have also been dismayed at finding rubbish when cycling or walking in the countryside in the North West in general which todays programme highlighted. When out cycling near Preston Marina we think a couple stopped their car purposely by the wall of the river bank to fly tip from the boot of their car (they were acting very suspiciously opening the boot then closing it very quickly when we passed by, continually looking at us until we had gone out of sight) but we had our little grandson with us and had to get back home so could not wait around to check this out. I really do hope the government become much more proactive to stop litter of all kinds spoiling Britain - but, however great the laws they will never be effective if they are never used!

Even though I am from the Midlands we have been getting the same problem but fortunately the other way round. The previous weekend the forecast was set for heavy showers in the afternoon but we only had light showers. How can the weather predictions be so wrong?! In light of the weather reports I had made no plans and from what we had I could have done many a thing! It has been a disappointing summer in terms of the weather and I have heard a rumour it is set to continue!

It is heartbreaking to see the amounts of litter being dropped/left/thrown/dumped in establishments, towns and the countryside of Great Britain. I have noticed that when on a visit to the cinema people will walk away from where they have been sitting and leave drinks cups, bottles, popcorn tubs and any other rubbish behind them. This is indicative of behaviour elswhere.Why should anyone have to clear up after them? What is so difficult about disposing of these items in the litter bins always provided at such venues?

It is time sanctions were enforced more stringently when litter is dropped on the street.

I have just spent about 35 minutes composing a response to these self-congratulatory ramblings which exclude any reference to local satisfaction but I should have realised earlier that this is for the digestion of the tourists, the majority of whom take not one blind bit of notice of their beautiful surroundings. I therefore scrubbed it. To paraphrase someone even more notorious, residents of the Yorkshire Dales National Park are but an inconvenient truth.

Not only would the cost of building the ecotowns far, far exceed the cost of renovating the 280,000 existing houses now vacant in major UK cities, the carbon emissions from building a house far exceed that from repairing one. Not only that, but unemployment in these rural areas is often so high that many prospective ecotown dwellers may not be able to find work in the area (and if they are not permitted cars, as the government proposes, their lives will be very difficult indeed). Clearly, this so-called green initiative, and Ms. Flint's supposed concern for the poor, are really just the cover for the government to make those 'hundreds of millions of pounds profit' you cite in your article. It truly is contemptible.

I think that there is not enough rural affordable housing in the Harrogate District - and that which is available is very unattractive. Harrogate Borough Council will not allow development/conversions as most of the area I live in is AONB, yet they allow horrible buildings to be erected (such as those affordable homes at Fewston). I suggest they think again about ANY building/conversions in the countryside, as at the moment there is none whatsoever, affordable or not. I would suggest that barn conversions or such like within the AONB or countryside should be approved BUT to solve the problem put a condition on the property that the homes must be occupied by local people. Instead of taking greenfield sites and building horrible new buildings.

This story has made me relive my childhood, and what a happy childhood it was, how i wish the children of today could or would want nothing more than stickle back fishing and newting, great fun, then off for a picnic watching the butterflies and dragonflies bliss, yes i say preserve as much of our countryside and wildlife and learn from Mother nature the beauty of life.

My father served in the Royal Navy during WWII - I wanted to join when I was a young girl (living in Birkenhead Merseyside)but didn't achieve my dream as my parents would not let me take my plan further. However, I have always been deeply proud of my father, other relatives and ALL men and women who played their part, especially those from 'home'. As I have grown older I have taken up writing, and my interest in the war years and its people has come to mean a great deal more to me as I read about their bravery.

My view of the British government throughout post-war years in not honouring ALL who served in one way or another during WWII is that they in fact have 'dishonoured' them, and each serving party should be ashamed. The government constantly 'honours' people,some of whom are worthy others not so, but to be blind to the bravery of each and every group of men and women who gave up their 'normal' life to serve their country by conscription or as volunteers, is a disgrace and should be rectified NOW whilst some at least are still with us. It's the people who put the government in power and pay the salary of ministers through taxes, so there is no reason why they should be ignored by the few who take power - or maybe that's the problem - power - as then they forget they too belong to the people and should be proud to honour those who fought for them.

People will always smoke it and it has to come from somewhere...outlawing the market just puts it in the hands of outlaws! Under alcohol prohibition in the USA the market shifted from beer to whisky as more concentrated products are more profitable and attract lower sentences. Once the drug (alcohol) was relegalised this was reversed, with a switch to milder concentrations (beer) a fall in other crimes/violence and a double windfall for the taxpayer: more taxes in, less police/court/prison spending.

Pity the police can't protect us from the epidemic of drunkeness that afflicts our town centres every weekend. Cannabis is the soft option when it comes to policing. How about swooping on the cocaine and crack that is destroying out nations youth.

It is madness to compare the ownership of 4x4's for those people living in rural communities, with those who live in towns - especially London and the suburbs - when they only own a 4x4 as a 'fashion statement'.

I am a volunteer in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and have often found my 4x4 vital in order to reach an isolated spot to do a walling job or something similar. Before my retirement it also enabled me to get to work through heavy snow or floods, when colleagues were unable to get into the office under the same conditions.

I am on a small pension and I am finding the current cost of the road tax, together with the price of today's fuel, crippling. I have only ever used my car when absolutely necessary, and the constant financial pressures put to bear by our Labour government is unacceptable in my eyes. The sooner they are out the better, especially as many of those who hold or have held senior governmental positions never seem to set a good example.

I live in a rural area of Provence, France soon to become a National Park and I own a 4x4, not for professional reasons, simply for the joy of driving off-road along mountainous tracks. France abolished road tax for ALL private vehicles in the year 2000 - we pay NOTHING except for tolls on our Motorway network. I consider the road tax payable in the UK to be scandalous, even before these proposed increases come into effect and especially that massive increase on 4x4 vehicles needed by farmers and others for their livelihood. Good luck with your campaign.

Super work interpreting the "Herriot" stories. I'm an addict in the US, because I miss the Britain in which I grew up. Our values were so pristine, so fragile, they seem almost absurd now. And yet, so decent, so irretrievable. Thank you.

I feel that yet another freedom has been removed, but what else can we expect in this climate of taxing and banning the motorist? Done responsibly, driving along green lanes is enjoyable and can be enjoyed by families. Responsible use should be encouraged, rather than banning it for everyone. Walkers have enough routes to themselves already without taking over all the BOATS too. Surely the national park should encourage diverse uses of it's land.

I completely agree with you John. The climate changes, it always has it always will. The notion that there is a scientific concensus re man-made global warming is simply not true. The science is not settled by a long shot. New research and new climate data is becoming available all the time. Personaly I think were in for a spot of cooling, although I hope I'm wrong. Warmth is a lot easier to cope with than cold.

If global warming has ceased, how come records were still being broken in 2007?

The World Meteorological Organization reports global land surface temperatures in January and April 2007 were the warmest since such data began to be recorded in 1880; 1.89°C warmer than average for January and 1.37°C warmer than average for April. In 2007 many European countries had their warmest January on record. January temperatures in The Netherlands were the highest since measurements were first taken in 1706. January France saw above average Jan. temperatures (+2.3°C) for the whole country; the sixth warmest January since the start of the 20th Century and just 0.3 °C less than 2006. England had the warmest April in 348 years of record-keeping there, breaking the record set in 1865 by more than 0.6°C. Then England had its wettest the wettest May to July period since records began in 1766, due to a low jet stream over NW Europe. Spring 2007 also featured the highest temperatures ever recorded by the Swiss Weather Service.

Temperature records for summer heat were broken in south-eastern Europe (Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece) in June and July. On 23 July, temperatures reached 45°C in Bulgaria, setting a new record.

In Australia 2007 was the warmest year on record in the Murray Darling Basin and South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. The Australian annual mean temperature for 2007 was 6th warmest on record (0.67°C above normal). There was intense heat wave that engulfed western and central Russia in May, breaking several temperature records. In Moscow, temperatures on the 28th reached 32.8°C, the highest temperature recorded in May since 1891. (1890/91 saw a very intense El Nino, drought and famine killed millions worldwide, including 5m in the Ukraine.) In the U.S.A in August more than 100 all-time temperature records were tied or broken either for the highest reading or the warmest low temperature at night. A further 8,000 new heat records were set or tied for specific August dates.

Japan in 06/07 had one of the warmest winters on record and downtown Tokyo went without snow for the first time in 130 years; thermometers in August reached 40.9°C, the highest temperature ever recorded in Japan.

An extreme heat wave affected the South Asian countries of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and the People's Republic of China. The Pakistani meteorological department registered a new record maximum temperature of 52 °C.

The Arctic continued to warm, leading to the opening of the Canadian Northwest Passage for the first time in recorded history. On Aug. 17, 2007 the National Snow and Ice Data Centre reported there was less sea ice in the Arctic than since records began.

There was a short El Nino beginning in summer 2006 but it had faded to neutral conditions by Feb `07; so that can’t be credited for the above. A La Nina formed in Sept. 07, but La Nina’s usually bring cooler temperatures.

This is a fairly strong La Nina at present [strongest since 1988/89] that is expected to last for a few months yet. And no-one has said we would stop having seasons. The severe conditions this winter in regions across the world (The return of flooding to England this winter, heavy flooding in West Africa and the heavy snowfall in China and the NW USA and northern Great Lakes) are due to La Nina's influence, pushing air streams and atmospheric bodies of moisture around and are consistent with past La Ninas.

Let’s not forget that Lord Lawson is a politician [and so probably has an agenda] but I doubt he spends much time really looking into meteorological records.

Although, as you can see, I do not live in the affected area, I do visit it to enjoy those features for which it is justly famous. That does not include wind turbines, although we notice that they're bginning to spread like a rash. Just how tall are the actual machines being proposed for East Marton, how many are planned to be installed and what is their power output?

Currently, the largest turbines being designed are said to be for offshore use and even they generate a modest 5 Megawatts. Each is 163 meters overall height and has a blade diameter of 100 meters. That's somewhat taller than Blackpool Tower and a lot wider, and it would take 132 of them to replace just one of the six generating sets at Drax power station. That's assuming that they were all working to maximunm output all the time and a quick observation of existing wind farms shows that this never seems to happen. Of course, 2 megawatt machines are a lot smaller but it doesn't require Einstein to work out that you need two and a half times as many of them.

I recently met an ex vice president of an American company that made and sold wind turbines and even he says that their overall efficiencey does not exceed 10%.

The thought of these things spreading on shore in the Dales and other 'suitably windy' places in numbers sufficient to make a significant impact on our energy needs is truly appalling.

Incredible that these huge turbines are being allowed to spoil such an outstandingly beautiful landscape. I can only hope that the test mast's findings show that the wind currents are not suitable. I would like to know why our Council even considered this option without consultation with the affected Parish Councils. Are they all too busy with the new Skipton Homeloan HQ and JN Bentleys proposals?

Having been "caching" for about a year , I can thoroughly endorse what the YDNPA are doing. Its a fantastic way to get people to see unknown bits of areas they may think they are already familiar with. Here in Malham "Dales Diva" has set up a fantastic Multicache, gathering clues by wandering round the back lanes of the village before leading you to the final cache site. Just around Malham are enough caches prepared by other Geocachers to keep a visitor busy for at least 2 or 3 days if he or she wanted to "bag" them all at once.

shhh, don't tell everyone about cache hunting... a fantastic hobby for getting you to places in the Dales you may not otherwise consider - I've lived in the Dales over ten years yet have discovered more places in the past year than the previous nine. Just pop your postcode into www.geochaching.com - you may be surprised just how many treasure boxes there are around where you live...

We are coing to Ilkley in June and are already big into caching (Grizzly Pair) we love the way the National Park is spreading the word especially encouraging families to take up this wonderful hobby. We we aim to pick about 80 - 90 caches in our weeks holiday. Well done to YDNPA.

Great to see geocaching is being uysed in a positive way to encourage visitors to areas and get some fresh air! thanks for including this.

What a great idea. I now live in Souith Africa but have spent many happy weeks hiking the Yorkshire Dales. I spend a lot of time geocaching in RSA and it's wonderful way to get to places I otherwise wouldn't see. Perhaps it's sad that in the modern day we need an excuse or at least a good reason to get off our butts and make the effort to see some of the most beautiful places on earth. In my opinion the more people who can experience the majesty of the Dales as I have the better and if it takes geocaching to achieve that then so be it.

Well done on a great initiative; I will suggest it to the Parks Board in South Africa.

Utter insanity.

As far as I know, the only country to create biofuels with a significant carbon footprint advantage is Brazil, with its sugar cane to ethanol plant giving a carbon saving of around 30%. That is not allowing for the rain forests that are being cut down to grow the sugar cane, of course.

Biofuel from grain offers much less advantage, often actually using more fossil fuel to produce it than it yields. Of course, the new market for grain puts the price up, as no-one is actually growing more grain to fuel the new demand, which means that those who were struggling to pay for their basic sustenance will quite likely goto the wall.

All as a result of a bizarre apocapalyptic mega-cult, spawned a toxic mixture of control freak tax-and-spend governments, guilt tripping Western pseudo-intellectuals, born-again Commie agitprop retarded adolescents and a plethora of other malcontents and heart-on-sleeve types brilliantly illustrating the old adage about the road to Hell being paved with "good" intentions.

Congratulations, Greenies, you may well have helped solve the overpopulation problem.

John, have you noticed that, since the collapse of the Iron Curtain, all the supporters of Socialism have transferred their allegiance to the new religion of Malign Anthropogenic Global Warming, to give it its full title?

And isn't it curious that the line between the supporters and the opponents of this new cult is almost exactly on the old Left/Right lines, which is somewhat intriguing, seeing as it is a scientific matter, and even oil company executives and their ilk have families and little grandchildren, so having just as much a stake in the future as some Sociology lecturer at the University of Cleckhuddersfax Polytech, and are probably much better informed to boot?

This is why the Global Warming aficionados are commonly referred to as Watermelons, due to being green on the outside and red on the inside.

I think you're confusing issues here, the proper disposing of batteries is more about pollution control. Batteries contain really nasty chemicals such as heavy metals, these leach into ground water and in only moderate quantities affect the entire food chain. As a keen fisherman battery re-cycling is one thing you really should be in favour of.

The global cooling is an El-Nina event (as opposed to El Nino) so its effects are predicted and modelled. I'm afraid it gives us only a few years off in the general trend of global warming

In addition to the economics and adverse impact on the landscape does anyone consider the health risk poised by windmills. They do generate considerable dioxin (inherant with any electric generation process) which due to their generators being elevated is spread much more effectively than any other power generation method. There should be dioxin monitoring of wind turbines especially since ounce for ounce dioxin is far more toxic than nuclear radiation.

Is it time the shops that supplied the alcohol were targeted too. I have reported to the police that [edited] in Northallerton sells alcohol to under aged drinkers but nothing has happened. I have two teenage sons and drinking seems to be the norm to them, I am very concerned.

I think you've gone nuts! Cats are responsible for the decline in garden birds - i dont think so! I have two cats, both neutered toms and between them in the last 11 years they have caught one bird. This was a very old looking bird and i think it probably died of old age and they found it. Before these two i had a couple of females, not both at the same time, and the most they ever caught was butterflies and house flies. I think the decline is just as likely to be due to insecticides, acid rain or martians as it is to the moggie!

My garden is heaving with Blackbirds. There are cat owners all around my property, with free roaming moggies. I lose more birds to sparrow hawks than to felines. We feed our garden birds everyday of the year, it's like a transport cafe! They reward us by frequenting the garden in large numbers. I think your theory is somewhat simplistic and flawed.

Has anyone bothered inspecting the actual results that Germany has experienced with these expensive monstrosities?

It appears highly unlikely.

Where are the conventional power stations that must run continuously to provide the permanently available hot spinning backup for the 80% of the time these turbines are not producing any electricity going to be built?

A fairly typical, exagerated and lopsided view of the altenatives to nuclear. 1,000 ft including the hill! Have you ever read such rubbish? Arthur Scargill correctly forecast the demise of mining, it was the conditions miners worked in which caused illness....note that this is not a problem nowadays.

You might as well compare with nuclear power if there were no shielding in place. If there had not been such a rush to build nuclear so that a supply of irridated bomb fuel was available, at a time when we were still deep in debt from WWII, we might well have gone down a more efficient avenue than the billions spent on nuclear. Perhaps even built energy efficient houses like the Scandinavians and saved the massive heat lossess from them.

Building ten more stations will save 4% CO2 and add to the £76 billion [and rising] costs of decommissioning. Perhaps he might mention saving energy before continuing wasting 60% of the heat from a nuclear station into the seas. Try the sea around the outlet at Sizewell and shudder at the waste of it all.

Oh dear - yet again, we have the supporters of nuclear power trying to prevent the installation of a wind farm - without mentioning the significant difference in the two technologies - nuclear waste.

Why is it so difficult to understand the simple fact: nuclear power creates deadly nuclear waste which lasts for thousands of years and we have yet to decide how to deal with it (and I would not mention Sellafield in this context if I were you!). Wind power generators on the other hand, can be installed relatively quickly, create no radioactive waste and can be taken down and removed equally quickly - and most likely will be, when non-fossil fuel technology comes up with some other (non-nuclear) answer.

Value your landscape by all means - but please do not condemn the country - and the world - to a regeneration of a dangerous and unnecessary technology and an ever-growing mountain of lethal nuclear waste. There is no view on Earth worth that.

Wakefield does very little to celebrate st George's Day (last year we had a French market on St George's Day) What's wrong with celebrating the land of your birth. With all it's faults England has so much to be proud of so for just one day a year let's celebrate being ENGLISH (As Cecil Rhodes said 'to be born English is to win first prize in the lottery of life')

Its absolutly disgrasefull , the amount of damage caused by farm vehicles is far worse than the 4x4,s cause. Motorcycles wheel tracks are gone in less than a week, small minded walkers should think again as the majority of vehicle users i meet are polite friendly and carefull.

Long ago, in another life, I was a Youth Hostel Warden. I can truly vouch for the fact that the YHA management bodies have lost the plot. The YHA has always been run under a peculiar system of accountancy that appears to be able to turn profit into loss and make "t'committee's" favourite hostels profitable, no matter how few bed nights they have, or how great the seasonal fluctuations. Let's face it, if the present powers that be didn't walk the Pennine Way, they won't appreciate the need for hostels on it, so those are the ones that will go. If they didn't cycle, the cycling hostels are the ones that go - that is what was happening in my day.

And don't ask a warden to fight your corner. Both my husband and I wardened at different times before we married. We both fought to save hostels - we both got moved around to less and less profitable hostels, them moved into the ones that were scheduled for closure, then - surprise, surprise, made redundant. And we know many more it happened to!

Plot lost. Law unto itself. Forget the original ethos - long gone. Like our memberships.

I visit the Yorkshire Dales quite often and would be devasted to see the landscape altered. The people who do not live in the dales expect everything to remain the same and do not realise all the problems which are being experienced by the hill farmers and everyone connected with them. I certainly support your cause and voice my concern. I also think the country should value all the country crafts thoughout England and be proud of our Heritage.

I think that the work being carried out by C.I.W.F. and its other sister organisations across the UK and Europe are very good at highlighting the importance of the welfare of Farmed Animals, are against factory farming, and want the best for all farm animals, not just from the creatures birth, as all creatures, farmed or wild, are sensitive to good and bad management, feel pain and distress, and are capable of much more than they are given credit for, so Why should there be anything less than good farming practices if we are to continue to use domesticated Farm animals for food sources?

Farmers must surely benefit in the long term by ensuring that animals are kept in the best of condition, and the public are, as rightly stated by this article, becoming evermore aware of this responsibility that they have.

That is why people are concerned about Farm Animal welfare - it makes sense!

Hopefully the connections from the X84 will be there otherwise we're onto another lost cause. But THREE CHEERS for getting a bus back in the Dales. Happy Cackleberry Time!

Our local trekking centre closed because of this problem and an important leisure facility for tourists and locals has been lost.

Legislation is threatening all aspects of survival for small businesses . In order to pay increasing costs ,prices rise or proprietors work much longer hours to keep abreast of costs.

The way enterprise is stifled n this way is real cause for concern. This area survives largely due to small business ,there being few companies in the local area employing the masses.

We are in danger of losing small shops, bed and breakfast, pubs post offices and most of all farms. Service sector are closing retail outlets in favour of working online and from vehicles advertising their business.

The decline in traditional village way of life will affect visitor numbers.. Loyal locals are supportive of businesses but small populations cannot sustain all businesses.There does not appear to be much Support from the Government for rural issues. Look how badly the outbreak of foot and mouth in 2001 was managed . The effects of the hunting ban must have affected the entire equestrian industry which I think is the second largest rural industry after farming.

It is not just, when you have insurance for your stock and land,and trespassers can claim for being injured when climbing over walls or chasing livestock, picnicing in fields and leaving litter and bottles which can endager wildlife and walkers!

We live in acrazy world where p.c. and litigation are spoiling lifestyles. Is it any wonder why there are fewer local fetes village hall events, garden parties. open days and variety of events at shows .Volunteers have the same rights and responsibilities as paid workers but are nervous of being sued should an accident occur.

Insurance means that many activities in the villages now won't take place. It also remains a pity that there does not seem to be a way of re addressing the balance. I would be interested in others' views on this matter.

My concern is that as road plans stand for traffic travelling north to use the new road from Blossom Gate to Coltsgate Hill and avoid the Market Place it will still have to go up High Skellgate and along Westgate. Are there any plans to use Firby Lane to travel north?

I am appalled by the number of road signs that are now present on Sutton Bank. It would be interesting to know the total cost of these signs because this is surely a case of overkill! The signs which are specifically for lorries and their HGV drivers are achieving not much more than the existing signage which is drastically exaggerated as it is. Most drivers greeted with a plethora of signs probably find their eyes glazing over and admire the view. Does research tell us what percentage of HGV traffic is regular? new to the area? first time users? Perhaps the money spent rescuing HGVs from Sutton Bank could be recouped from the hauliers involved? Who will provide the answers?

I think all the public should be very concerned with higher welfare standards for every type of farmed Animal, not just for the quality of their lives, but also during transport and at slaughter.

As the recent coverage by the media in America concerning cows shows, there should be no room for cruelty towards ANY type of domestic animal. If they are going to be used for food, then at least treat them with some respect!

Deal with 2 problems:

1. over-fishing of the coastal waters - create conservation areas to allow the wider fish stocks to regenerate.
2. allow measured culls of cormorants inland. This happens to many species that get out of hand and cause damage - deer, rabbits, squirrels.

This Government has taken away services from post offices to ensure small offices are unprofitable. It is a national disgrace and they should resign immediately.

In response to Lewis McNeil’s reply; that’s lucky for you who decided to give up flying to save the planet. Unfortunately for a lot of us, flying IS a way of life, whether you like it or not.

I am sick of this, a ‘scientist’ bandies about some figures, the massed media picks up the taglines and we all panic. Read the news correctly please, this is typical of massed media (Reuter’s) scaremongering; Andrew Haines who we attribute this figure to is a Professor in Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, not of Climate Change and Meteorology. His statement – read clearly states the “We estimate that climate change may already be causing in the region of 160,000 deaths ... a year”. Keywords ‘estimate’ and ‘may’. He attributes ‘potential’ deaths to an increase in malnutrition, increased spread of malaria, etc etc.

Now a popular greenhouse effect scaremongering tactic is the effects caused by desertification - leading to malnutrition, primarily seen in Africa, and elsewhere; indeed parts of the once South American rainforest are a desert now thanks to man, but this is NOT a greenhouse effect. This is poor education, poor farming practices and over use of the fragile soils. Nothing to do with the greenhouse effect whatsoever – indeed further proof is in the encroachment of the Sahara in Libya – once the breadbasket for Rome, but due to the rise in Roman population and increased demands this led to unsustainable agriculture which in turn led to desertification, nothing whatsoever to do with carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

Greenhouse effect = increased malaria? Transmission of the Plasmodium falciparum malaria depends on a combination of temperature and rainfall conditions. A recent study carried out by Scientists at Oxford University, have found NO LINK between the recent increase in malaria in the East African highlands (one area typically at risk in this respect from ‘global warming’) What they found was that "Temperature, rainfall, vapour pressure, and the number of months suitable for P. falciparum transmission have not changed significantly during the past century or during the period of reported malaria resurgence." In brief, what they have found is not in line with the simplistic notion that global warming = increased malaria.

And if the place is getting drier – (ie. Desertification) then both the parasite and the mosquito which transmits the parasite cannot thrive.

Ok, so without air travel, as it is would be impossible – for the most part (and surely you are not advocating the use of ships now that would by hypocritical) so education there would suffer, as would healthcare, infrastructure, and more than likely social attitudes, THAT will be the demise of us, not ‘the greenhouse effect’.

So as long as your children and grandchildren don’t live in Africa or Asia, or certain parts of the Brazilian rain forest, and isolate themselves in Hull. I think there is a good chance they will be safe from Malaria and malnutrition.

Great to see these guys having success, its a great set of songs, and will do well for them. They could be a big band of the future, and all from Bedale!

If you claim to be a 'commited environmentalist' you would take the necessary step of giving up flying, and oppose all further expansion of the aviation industry. Theres no two ways about it: flying is grossly damaging to the biosphere, and it's unchallenged exopansion is set to become the final nail in the coffin for us and the rest of the species we'll take with us.

I too love travel, and giving up flying has been my biggest environmental sacrifice to date. However, it is not vital to my existance, and choosing not to fly will not impact on my quality of life. As for those living in Bangladesh.....you say that 'the country folk have a right to make a living'? Well, what about the 160 000 who are dying every year already as a result of climate change (UN figure)????? Surley these third world 'country folk' have a right to, er, simply live?

The time has come to realize that we need to make serious adjustments to our lifestlyes if our children and grandchirldren are not to feel the wrath of our temporary decadence. We may feel hard done by when certain 'rights' are taken from us, but compare this to the rights of those who are dealing with the reality our way of life already, and I think the 'right thing to do' becomes crystal clear.

Have GLASS UK or CRAG UK been involved in these discussions?

GLASS (Green Lane Association) and CRAG (Countryside Recreational Access Group) are both committed to the correct use of green lanes throughout the UK, and should be considered as attendees of consultations with regard to the use and restrictions on the country's routes.

While I appreciate that land owners, parish councils and other interested parties have (or may have) been consulted, in order to ensure an unbiased view, the above two organisations should also be able to participate in discussions and contribute.

The good people of the Health & Safety Executive of course analysed the last 600 years of Shrove Tuesday fun in Ripon and clearly decided that there were too many deaths and serious injuries to allow the event to continue. If you believe that, you still believe in the tooth fairy. What do you think the reaction would be if they used the same demands in France? Do you really believe that the good burghers of a similar town would roll over and accede to their demands? Of course not. They would have ignored the nanny state dictate and gone ahead.

What would the police and council officials in Ripon have done if the Ripon folks had done the same and ignored this ridiculous order? Would all the people of Ripon been arrested or served one of these equally silly ASBOs? No, of course they wouldn't. Come on people of Ripon, with your straightforward ways and calling a spade a spade. You're in serious danger of losing your reputation as strong, forthright and independent folk.

Funnily enough I have just finished reading the article on Bio-fuels, and then clicked on this one regarding flooding. Now it doesn’t seem illogical to me that by switching to biofuels we could also do ourselves a favour with respect to flood prevention, and in the long term help reduce the “greenhouse effect”.

Should we be spending money on more flood defenses when the problem lies with ourselves not being able to see the bigger picture? The problem is the upland areas are saturated, the Ribble, Wharfe, and Aire catchments are waterlogged and excess water simply runs off the hills (via our man-made trackways – but that’s another story) and into the rivers, which obviously cannot cope and the lowlands suffer.

In order to prevent this from happening we need a sponge, something that soaks up the water. Any ideas? Let’s have a think – oh yes, a tree drinks a lot of water; therefore one can assume that lots of trees drink lots of water. Therefore as the tree drinks the water the ground upon which the tree sits doesn’t become saturated and any excess rainfall simply gets soaked up by the earth … even better, later on, we could burn the trees (especially fast growing creatures like the goat willow) as a biofuel. Brilliant! – I think I have just solved the two problems in one go. Could it be as simple as this? Or should we just go out and soak up the water with wads of cash?

Well now, isn't that a surprise!

Seriously, did anyone believe that the present Government would make any concessions at all to the country, especially to farmers, whose very existence is anathema to the Southern 'Liberal' meterosexual self-loathing middle-class Socialist pseudo-intellectual self-elected elite?

Small schools are dependent on small children living in the area. Most of these rural areas are blighted by second homes/holiday homes or property prices that are way too high for first time buyers or young families. This is not an education issue, its like everything else in this country, a property issue.

It is indeed no surprise that the Aire valley floods. Just looking at this flat bottomed valley will tell you that it has been flooded regularly for thousands of years. That is why it is flat and fertile.

Does Mr Sheard expect the banks to be raised higher to prevent flooding in the area? That will have the effect of delivering water downstream to Leeds a lot faster, but Mr Sheard's despised "townies" live there, so that doesn't matter.

We need to take note of all the building of patios and concreting over gardens that prevent rain water soaking away. In addition farmers need to get back to hedging and ditching, which used to prevent floded roads.

My views on the Veal industry: It occurs to me that the way veal has been publicised is all wrong, and yes if we did kill the animals to be destroyed soon after birth then what is heartbreaking is the fact that the animal is sent away to be destroyed. We should however especially in this country educate the British people, a nation of animal lovers, and explain the resons why animals have to be killed.

It's not fair to lay everything at Beckett's feet. In my opinion, the entire RPA hierarchy involved in awarding the main IT application contract, and in supporting and extending it, despite the cautions being strongly expressed to them by various independent consultants, should also bear a large amount of culpability.

It's hard to know whether the IT vendor is also 'responsible' - it comes down to whether shareholders or taxpayers interests should be seen as paramount. Beckett still should have been forced to resign though.

It's about time people with a bit of clout took issue with the national obsession with cheap, cruelly produced, intensively raised meat. I hope Jamie and Hugh will make an impact on the British public and supermarkets who keep costs - and welfare standards - so terrifyingly low. No wonder there is Bird Flu in battery farms and TB in cattle. They are not meant to be living in such crowded, unhealthy conditions.

I very much agree with the views of your commentator. Let 2008 commence with the rural folk begining to look after themselves and have their views listerned too for once.

Foxes are vermin and as such need to be kept under strict control for the sake of other creatures, and farm animals, in the countryside. Fox hunting is a natural way of control. Animals hunting each another is all part of nature. Foxes do not kill solely to survive. They kill for pleasure, and are vicious. Fox hunters have no desire to eradicate the fox, merely to keep the harm they are capable of to a minimum.

A fit and healthy fox is quite capable of outwitting the slower thinking hounds. If a fox is killed, it is almost certainly, dispatched by a lead hound very quickly, before the other hounds catch up.

The Countryside Alliance reports many thousands of people turning up to Boxing Day meetings and hunts continuing. Before the ban they predicted the countryside would collapse, hunts would shut down and the end of the world was nigh because the cruelty was going to be taken out of their 'sport'.

So the Hunting Act has actually done them a favour, people can bring their families to Boxing Day parades to join in with a traditional spectacle which allows for pageantry and a social event. Riders and hounds can have a day in the countryside without chasing and killing British wildlife for fun, which is an uncivilised, debased thing to do.

So come the next election the public are not going to vote to go back to cruelty, this is the 21st Century.

The Hunting Act is here to stay.

I think it is scandlous that more dentists are withdrawing their nhs dentistry facilities and therefore pushing everybody into going private. The state of the countries teeth is going to disintegrate as not everybody can afford private dentistry.

This sounds absolutely delicious. A very enjoyable article, & will try the recipe if I can ever get hold of a guinea fowl (not commercially available - you need to know the hunters) Still you can always hope.

The best I could manage this year was home made chicken pate, spinach stuffed duck (local)& orange sauce, glazed ham, salad, homemade chocolate mousse, bought (sorry) pavlova with grapes strawberrries & kiwifruit (all in season)& ice cream. Naturally it rained! We drank an Aussie white.

Wishing you a very merry New Year....

Whilst like you i have every sympathy for disabled people, does a person in a wheelchair want to get over a stile (or through a kissing gate) as most of these are on footpaths over very rough ground! Will moorland footpaths be next on the pc list as not suitable for wheelchairs!!!?

These people are scum. The mess they have left near appersett on the return route from hell gill is a disgrace. These people should be made to repair the area and banned from the dales for life.

As a life long walker in the Yorkshire Dales I am appalled at the deterioration of the green lanes mainly caused by off-road 4x4,s and motor bikes. I now suffer from arthritis and, whereas in the past green lanes would have been ideal for walkers with my condition, some are now too rough and uneven to provide enjoyable walking.

The National Parks were created for visitors to experience peace and tranquility and therefore, I believe that all off-road activity should be banned from the Parks.

This one is great. John I check your site every week, and I find it very good. Us Rural Folks here in the USA, can relate to what ya are saying. Even though the people and events are not the same, the problems are. Thanks for putting this one out. AND HAVE A GOOD ONE.

You should not trust the Daily Mail, which has got its facts wrong. The supermarkets and processors put up prices and passed the increases in full to their farmer suppliers. This was acknowedged by the the UK government, in its formal response to the Thirteenth Special Report of the Select Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (which had investigated the matter in detail).

The Government said "We conclude that the July and September 2003 retail price increases were transmitted to farmers ... We welcome the decisions of the supermarkets to increase the retail prices of liquid milk and cheese last year while specifying that the price increases must be passed along to farmers."

Then they went and fined them for doing so.

Disability is all about degrees and where you draw the limit of what you can do. Although very fit, I am not 'able' to climb Mount Everest. I would love to stand on the top of that mountain. Does that mean I have a right to lobby for a chairlift to be fit up it? Of course not. We all need to know and work within our limitations, whatever they are.

NIMBYs LOSE THEIR SAY

Whilst Gordon Brown was being roasted by the press for his party accepting donations from wealthy property developers by proxy, with hapless Tory voters being used as nominees, a more significant but far less newsworthy announcement was being made about the governments planning reforms for major infrastructure projects which went largely unreported.

Not surprisingly, due to our lumbering planning system ,it takes years and years before proposed infrastructure developments can be built. This is largely due to the local nimbys objecting but the government make no mention of them being silenced as the new reforms boldly state that the publics right to be heard will be protected.

Heard maybe but definitely not heeded as major planning decisions will now be taken away from vote conscious local councils and given to a band of tame non local 'experts' interested only in the national good and not views from front windows over open country or the local council voting bias.

The government claim that this will enable major planning decisions to be made in under a year ,which is the blink of an eye in planning terms, and enable much needed development to proceed quicker and cheaper.

As expected, all the usual highly organized and eloquent minority groups (Friends of the Earth, Clique to Protect Rural England etc) are of course objecting, but by contrast the big landowners the Country Land and Business Association think it's a jolly good idea. Turning muddy fields into any form of development means big bucks for them and, since these infrastructures are for some future general use, residential planning will soon follow which is the most profitable holy grail behind the whole exercise.

I have no doubt that the government will find some way of taxing the huge profits that will be made by the landowners but this is the only way their targets for building new homes can be achieved .

Local residents and councilors will lose their powers of saying and enforcing "Don't build it here - build it somewhere else"

As a result, perhaps in the future, large donations by hopeful property developers to political parties who control the local councils and planning offices will not be quite so frequent or necessary to obtain planning consent.

• Ron Kennor is General Manager of Robinson Jackson Estate Agencies

I think it is wrong for the biggest mammal population on the planet (man)to even imagine it has the right to kill other creatures in this totally useless way.

farmers flout the laws every day.they take three quarters of the road up with their tractors etc forcing other road users into the hedge back.they are mostly responsible for the state of the pot holes etc on country roads.my husband worked on a farm for 20 years spraying etc without any protective clothing at all.it it high time that the law caught up with them and fined them heavily for their law breaking, which takes place every day.

DEFRA once more are working hard...to bring farmers to their knees. It's constant stress, let up, stress, let up. And, just when you think things can't get worse, they will change the rules. Anything that can involve, hardship, DEFRA will impose. As if the weather conditions weren't hard enough to deal with, and livestock and arable prices down. You can;t even have a good moan over the market gate,there aren't any markets, abbatoirs failing and you can't find an incinerator for deadstock.

We must not give up. THis country still needs it's farmers, it just doesn't realise HOW MUCH!

This is great news for geocaching and for the Dales. I have not been back to the UK since I began geocaching just under a year ago, but I have great plans for hunting geocaches on my next trip there. I always love visiting the Dales, so now I have even more incentive to spend time there! There's an interesting-looking series in Bentham, and a series that spans a great part of the North, including Hoghton (Lancs., nr. Preston) and Preston Patrick (near Kirkby Lonsdale) that I also hope to take in. Now, just to get back over there!

Superb. Malham is one of my favourite parts of the country. I have been geocaching for just short of one year and am not far off my 500th cache so I am going to pencil in Malham on my to do list.
Jason (Geoname Wicker)

Well, a news item in the UK on geocaching can't be bad. This is excellent news. As devoted geocachers we are very pleased to see the effort put into the caches in the Dales. It can only be good for visitors, cachers and for the general way to get people interested in the area and environment in a positive manner.

Wish I could go there and cache one day. This is an awesome idea to encourage geocaching in the park while providing resources. This sport is going to be so huge that everyone will have heard about it in the future.

We are Team Hatco, geocachers for 3+ years. We live in the desert in California, and have found almost 500 caches. These projects of yours capture the true essence and spirit of the sport. We have nothing but applause for your endeavors. Cache on!

I had the fun of finding a couple of geocaches in York and London this past summer while on holiday with my wife and daughter. I think it is great that a National Park would encourage geocaching. In the US they are very protective of the environment and are not too supportive of geocaching, at least in our area.

Absolutely very cool. A wonderful asset and it is great to see an Authority acting in a progressive manner to promote a positive use of the resources. I'd be interested to know if the caches are registered at www.geocaching.com or they are unique to YDNPA...

While this is a good idea, to keep the numbers down, I would like to point out that many squirrels hide their nuts. If giving the pill(disguised in nuts)is supposed to take effect sooner rather than later, then surely them eating their hidden nuts at a much later date would not be effective! But then in 5-10 years time Defra may have come up with a better solution.

I personally think squirrels are nice. We only have grey ones come into our garden, they behave ok and don't damage anything that I can see. Their antics amuse us. It is a pleasure to watch them - "Cyril & Beryl". I even have names for them, altho I have no idea what sex they are, or even if they are different every time they "visit"!

What a grand idea, I've often thought that a walking guide was too narrow and wished that someone would produce a guide with Arch/Historical/Landscape information. So well done.

Been Geocaching since March 2007. It is great fun and you findout a lot about the countryside around you. That a National Park is also helping in this growing sport is fantastic. Keep it up

I think this is a very positive development for all concerned. As Chairman of the West Yorkshire branch of the TRF I welcome this with open arms and congratulate all those involved. I hope that those who do not want trail riders in the 'Dales' at all, can accept that trail riders have made concessions, perhaps they can too, and then everyone can enjoy what the Dales has to offer either on foot, horseback, bicycle or motorcycle.

Having just had a week staying in the south I can see how challenging it is to live in an area that is constantly crowded. Everything and everyone suffers with over crowding - just getting from A to B is hard work. All the people in this country need to protect spaces from over development to keep their sanity and constant building on them is not what we need.

David and Ann deserve great success from their efforts to put the equipment of this building back into working order. All too many buildings and artefacts are preserved without restoring their original function so they become amusements or tourist attractions. This is an example of a new and to my mind much more valid way to preserve our heritage.

Last Tuesday night, the Andromeda galaxy was visible to the unaided eye from Horton in Ribblesdale, one of those very rare occasions when "seeing" was very good despite increasing light pollution.

The planets, their moons, the stars, our Galaxy and numerous other fascinating heavenly objects were the cast on the original "Sky TV" for primitive man through to modern mankind. Human tribes throughout history, separated by once insurmountable distances, recognized the same visual constellations as does modern mankind and so history was written in the night sky and passed on to countless generations.

The whole of the history of the universe is visible on "Sky TV" and we are slowly turning it off.

Maybe cats should be banned when dogs are banned...they kill birds by the millions the world over, esp. in cities. I had 2 wonderful Irish Setter BIRD dogs as a child and 2 as an adult. I now have 2 spaniels. None have frightened a bird in my presence.

However, one setter BIRD dog made a footpath through the fields to the lake and could be seen frolicking along the shore happily "scaring" up waterfowl on their ways going north or south in spring and fall. For all I know, the birds thought it was fun, too.

There is a growing demand for allotments in Skipton, and currently there is a waiting list for plots on each of the Council owned sites. Nevertheless Skipton Town Council still intend to sell off the former Burnside Allotments site for housing development.

I have recently written to all members of the Town Council imploring them to consider residents own views before selling off such a valuable community asset, which should be (if it is not) a statutory allotment site. Please support the demand for a positive allotments policy in Craven.

Firstly can I point out that Tesco do in fact stock Prince Charles' Duchy products although I don't buy them as they are far too expensive.

Secondly, it seems to me that people who condemn Tesco and other supermarkets tend to be middle class people with a rather rosy view of the past. I for one do not wish to return to the days of traipsing round individual shops carrying a number of bags with the weekly shopping. It is even harder for those with children in tow.

These same people also seem to forget that supermarkets are not the only threat to local shops. An equally great threat is the internet where goods can be purchased anywhere in the world and often cheaper than even supermarkets can offer. - are campaigners going to ban on line shopping?

The reason that supermarkets are successful is that they provide customers with what they want, convenience and reasonable prices.

I think it is absolutely scandalous that my husband and I have been without dental treatment for two years now due to the greed of dentists in our area. We cannot afford to sign up for the private scheme operated by our former dentists in Bedale and so have been left high and dry. We have both paid NHS contributions from the age of 18 until retirement but now feel we have been abandoned.

I work in the driver safety industry and we should applaud the police for cracking down in an attempt to reduce the daily tragedy of death on our roads, 95% of which could be avoided with additional education.

As one of the leading providers of defensive driving courses for business drivers, Drive & Survive is staggered by drivers' lack of knowledge, skill and awareness of the dangers that they are routinely exposed to on the roads. We are doing something about it but re-training 50,000 drivers a year is only the tip of the iceberg and most individuals wouldn't dream of spending £160 to give themselves a hugely reduced chance of being involved in a crash.

Sadly young drivers are becoming a huge problem. The current driving test is inadequate and raising the driving age to 18 will make neglible difference because young people's risk awareness only improves at age 25 and above.

We need to have driving on the school curiculum, a more comprehensive test, a probationary period, even more policing (but with police giving out stern advice to minor transgressors, not tickets) and full use of technology to catch the non insured and reckless.

I am a Highways Maintenance Operative and I suffer with eczma. I have to pull Ragwort every summer and while doing this my skin gets very irritated,i get small blister like sores and itch for hours after picking Ragwort. I've seen my G.P.and was told I am allergic to it, yet many of my collegues have mentioned the same itchy feelings but don't suffer with any skin problems such as eczma. We are told to pull Ragwort for eight hours a day for up to six weeks solid without any mention of the risk it may be causing to our health!

It's about time the government funded extensive research into the health risks to Ragwort and also make the authorities responsibile for the removal of Ragwort, e.g The Highways Agency,set aside some of the budget for safer ways to kill Ragwort! The way it's done at this present time is not helping to kill it, but helping it to thrive because it's pulled to late!!

I sincerely hope this bill is passed.Riding has been a wonderful sport for adults and children alike. Riding establishments are now more than ever going through a hard time, and to make owners responsible if someone lets their horses out of a secure field is ridiculous. I have an old pony which is too small for me to ride but I daren't let a child ride her in case of an unforseen accident. What are we meant to do?

More wild fields around us are allowing ragwort to grow undusturbed, and it is transferring itself to our nearby country park where families walk and play; it is spreading rapidly because the rangers are not mowing the grass half as much as they used to, saying they want the park to be more meadow-like. More killer-like they mean!

Sad to say this keeps happening all over the country. This has been witnessed at Chorley ( store now extended even further - extra floor) and at Leyland. At Great Harwood a planning application is currently lodged with Hyndburn council.

Yet if people are satified with inferior products and what will eventually become much less choice just to save a small amount of money or gain 'TescoPoints' which is just a mechanism of building a profile of a local store base so that the store management can limit the choice of product offering ie 'more of the same'.

I think much of these stores sucess is based around the relative ease of 'free' parking adjacent to the store. Perhaps if local council derived a charge from this facility this may help high street shops in some way?? - A more recent development is people/shoppers do not want to walk any distance searching shelves for food in the 'hyper' stores and this has given rise to the Tesco Express stores now out muscling traditional Spar and Londis mini-markets stores.

I just hope people realise what is happening and are not 'sleepwalking' into what will become a bland shopping experiance costing themselves more in the end with no alternative to turn to.

Ok, so lets look at this properly. I am a responsible quad biker and I love to enjoy the national parks and ancient rights of way all over the country and as much as I agree that some areas are being over used by vehicles(the ones most well publicised during these debates) there are some which have over grown and can not be passed even on foot to which we usualy come with saws and spend days clearing with out any thanks, it's now up to the national park networks to may be allow limited use say on a pre applyed for permit basis as is the case in the Lakes come on every one lets share this beautiful green country without arguing.

I think that the whole philosophy of free market economy as set out by the tories and fully embraced by the current regime is the greatest cause of environmental disruption. Without any policy of planning, human nature appears to tend towards individual greed and thus the maximising of individual wealth. This article does not surprise me at all, just sickens me further.

It makes a nice change to read an uplifting and positive view on how we can proceed with replacing oil and gas with something locally produced and environmentally friendly. I look forward to seeing more of those sweeping willows in the Dales and elsewhere. Perhaps Gordon Brown should change his speech from 3 million new homes in the south to 3 million new willow trees.

I thought I'd let you know that I saw a Green Hairstreak in my garden today. I have lived at my current address for 9 years and have never seen one before, but it is so distinctive I am sure that is what I saw. I live in a hilly area of mainly sheep farm land, which normally is a pretty dry area, however NOT THIS YEAR!

I love reading Daelnet because it's good to hear news for and from the countryside. But John Sheard often oversteps the mark and his clear bias in reporting often makes me cringe, and sometimes makes me stop reading. Maybe his initial report wasn't an outright lie, but it clearly wasn't the whole story. I have to agree wholeheartedly with Tony Lidgate when he says "In running stories like this without checking does two things: It makes your readers doubt the accuracy of all your news items, and wild fantasies about surging crime just make people afraid unneccesarily."

When faced with a detailed, specific criticism as presented by Tony Lidgate, I expect John Sheard to reply with something more specific than petty schoolyard taunts such as "I have probably covered many more crimes than Mr Lidgate". And in response to John Sheard's accusation that "When there are favourable and unfavourable interpretations of the same figures it is only human for those in official positions choose to broadcast the favourable" - I would say that it is only human for journalists to choose to broadcast the unfavourable! John Sheard says "police crime figures have in general come under considerable suspicion" - I wonder if he is aware of how much criticism journalists and the press have come under for biased and sensationalist reporting?

John - please try harder to give us the full story next time, the good as well as the bad.

Just one question your readers might like to ponder - why would such an experienced journalist not check the accuracy of a story before publishing it? Just one phone call would have saved the usually excellent Daelnet from getting egg on its face.

Today's Daelnet news item tells me "Crime booming in North Yorkshire" - apparently robbery and violent crime are "surging".

Time for a reality check - crime in North Yorkshire has FALLEN for the third year running. It fell by 7.2% last year. Burglary is DOWN, autocrime is DOWN, sex offences are DOWN. And, since you mention it, violent crime is DOWN by 11%!

Robbery has gone up, it's true - by 40 incidents across the county's two million acres, the kind of statistical blip you get with very small numbers. Is that a "surge"?

It seems odd that if crime in North Yorkshire is "booming" the Home Office have recently confirmed that we have the lowest crime rate of any county in England...

And I see that once again you have erroneously claimed that police stations have closed in North Yorkshire. Yes, some have closed - but only to be replaced by better ones.

In running stories like this without checking does two things: It makes your readers doubt the accuracy of all your news items, and wild fantasies about surging crime just make people afraid unneccesarily.

• Editors Note:

  Daelnet has published a response to this feedback: Click here to read our article.

ALL land managers find the need for public grants, farm subsides, development grants, charity status etc, sites are managed by owners who claim tax relief etc. Why is money handed over if it cannot be shown that these birds are recieving the full legal status that the public expect.

Sites that are not breeding these birds should be blighted and marked as a problem until owners feel the cost via a lack of public will.

I feel that some people do abide by the rules and don't litter becuase they are aware of the consequences. For example the anaimals are in more danger becuse they may hurt themselves whilst trying to eat the litter. If everyone knew the consequences then i think that there would be less litter being thrown.

Also, I congratulate the peole who do take there litter home and don't just litter. In my opinion people who litter make more work for other people, so if a person were to put there rubbish in the bin it would help the people who have to clean it.

I am interested in Scarhouse and visit frequently. My father lived in the village of Angram, that was flooded for the resevoir. When older both he and his father worked on the building of the dams. Many times i have walked round the resevoir and the colours change from greens to golds depending on the weather. I have taken lots of photos of the area and keep them on my computer

An answer to another feedback posted on Friday, 29 June: It's very well for GM not to need pesticides. The reason for this is, that GM produce antibiotics within to keep the bacteria from living that'd you so much would spare from the pesticides. Very well. This means that everytime you eat GM food you eat antibiotics in a small dose.

Every person, every day of their lives. Take a look at our hospitals and see what problems resistance to antibiotics have crceated there, multiply this by the amount of GM food being eaten, digested, passed through into the ground water by faeces, spread again onto our fields - and you will have a scenario on which we'll soon have no way of keeping life threatening diseases at bay. Congrats - you've used less pesticides, though!

You have yet to explain how a GM crop that is infertile is able to "take over and the natural plant would cease to exist." As much as I share your doubts and bleak view of GM ( I have other reasons for dooing so), this one escapes me. Please explain.

I agree with yr comment re big bikes and middle aged men with failing testosterone (I speak as an ex biker: small Bike)who gave up riding at 70. Speaking from experience, the vast majority of bikers ride safely, but the few give all a bad name. Also a lot car drivers are poor in looking for bikers especially at road junctions, and also in slow moving traffic when they pull out without looking in their review mirrors ( again I speak from experience) or their blind spots. How many car drivers look in their left hand mirror when turning left? this bad driving technique also applies to cyclists as well as bikers. I have been knocked off my bike by these idiots.

An ever growing problem that will sadly lead to a fatality during one of these raids.

Why do we have to wait until a citizen is killed in their own home before Law Enforcement acts. Re-active Policing has clearly failed and the current system is broken. Time to become pro-active to curb these organised art theives antics.

For the real truth about art related crime investigation see:

• www.arthostage.blogspot.com
• www.stolenvermeer.blogspot.com

If they die before they're mature how are they going to out-breed the wild populations? The Monsanto seeds not being fertile is at least partially to prevent the genes escaping. So what's the problem.

Round-up ready crops actually lead to less spraying of pesticide; if common sense is used rather than the spraying protocols recommended by Monsanto.

How many people have died from GM crops - answer none. There is no way a gene from food will enter your body in any significant way. Anyone who suggests it will is scaremongering.

PS how can you possibly deny that humans contribute significantly to global warming. I refer you to New Scientist of about 3 weeks ago which answers all such nonsense. Such complacency is irresponsible.

I have visited scar house many times and done the walk all around the resevoir. But my main interest is my father was born there in 1900. Both he and his father worked on building the dams. I have photos taken of the constuction of one dam. I dont know if it is the first or last one to be built. I wondered if there was any photos or information about the village of Angram before they decided to flood it for a resevoir.

We've lived in Settle for many years and John Sheard is right (this time) in that many of the road deaths here are as a result of drivers being completely reckless. Its fair to say that the roads are challenging but youngsters and old people alike are just as much to blame. In the summer the roads are used by visitors who are not familiar with the twists and turns and they often drive too slowly - mixing with locals who have places to get to in as short a time as possible.

Perhaps highlighting nationally the fact that the road is so dangerous is the best way of making sure people drive more carefully - not just on this road, but on all roads.