SIR - The news announced last week will have a terminal effect on the name of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding).

Under the plans set out by the MoD, the regiment will be amalgamated with other Yorkshire regiments and the name will pass into oblivion by 2007-2008.

This will surely happen unless the Government can be persuaded that they have made a mistake.

The first issue is that the reduction of four infantry battalions has been greeted in the serving Army with incredulity.

The 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment in Osnabruck, returned from the Iraq War in July last year and they go back again in October this year. This is an interval of 14 months, during which time soldiers of the battalion have been away from barracks and home for four months. Can you imagine the strain on families and personal relationships that such a level of separation causes?

One hundred or so of the battalion were in Kosovo until November so the separation for them has been even greater.

The Ministry of Defence accepts that 24 months should be the norm for tour intervals. We are a far cry from that and will, I suspect, continue to be so. We are no exception.

Some battalions have had tour intervals of only eight months, so we are probably lucky. Is this, therefore, a time to reduce any infantry battalions let alone four? It is certainly not.

The second issue is the affinity of the Duke's to their local county and recruiting area and our unique name founded on our ties to the Great Duke.

The soldiers of the Duke's have been drawn from the West Riding since the 18th century and over those years we have forged strong and enviable ties with the cities and towns of the old West Riding. We have the freedom of six towns and cities.

Soldiers who come from the same locality, town or street bind much more closely together, go on leave together and encourage others to join.

We are truly a family regiment and this has been our strength. That is why we have been consistently up to or over establishment for 10 years. If we lose this link that we have jealously guarded and move to a wider recruiting base, we will have lost that intrinsic local dimension.

As a consequence a new regiment will have recruitment and identity difficulties that will take 20 years to resolve. This has been the experience of regiments in the south and it must not be ours.

The third issue is the cessation of arms plotting and the adoption of a trickle posting system. In other words, instead of all 650 moving together there is a steady "trickle" movement of individuals through static battalions. This argument has waxed and waned for all my service.

Now there is a definite swell of opinion in the Army that increased stability is desirable and trickle posting will deliver this. The changing of role and the movement of battalions is undoubtedly expensive. So a change is justified.

The question, therefore, is whether one can reconcile the small single battalion regiment and its identity with such a system. The MoD clearly does not think so and thus the intention to form new "large regiments'".

I and many in the regiment think it is possible to preserve the identities of the famous regimental names and we believe the MoD has not tried hard enough to preserve that which is so precious and so beneficial to us and the local community.

There is now to be a period of consultation during which time I hope local people will let their views be known to MPs or the press. For my part I shall be listening very hard to the views of the young officers and soldiers who come from your readership. It will be their views on their future that will carry the day.

Major General Sir Evelyn Webb-

Carter,

Duke of Wellington's Regiment,

Halifax.

SIR - In response to the letter from Alan Perrow, published on July 16 2004, I should like to take issue with some of the points he raises and correct a number of inaccuracies.

In October 2003, the Home Office conducted a base line assessment inspection of all forces in England and Wales. However, the results of this inspection were not released until June 2004 and so the assumptions that Mr Perrow makes about current North Yorkshire Police performance are based upon historical information.

Performance figures for North Yorkshire Police released this week indicate that since October 2003, we have demonstrated an impressive reduction in the number of crimes being committed, together with a positive increase in the detection of crime. Therefore, the suggestion that North Yorkshire Police are among the worst in the country is misleading and again inaccurate.

As area commander for the Western Basic Command Unit of the North Yorkshire Police area, I have full responsibility for the communities and police personnel scattered over a huge geographical area. This involves the responsibility for everyday policing within that designated area and the accountability for critical incident command across the force area.

A number of views have been expressed about the choice of vehicles used in conducting this demanding role - I support the view that the people best suited to making this decision are those who fully understand both the complexities of the command role and the need for asset replacement as part of a structured business strategy.

I am immensely proud of the achievements of all the police officers and police staff who work with me in the Western Area. They are committed, professional, conscientious people who work hard to provide an excellent service.

I would like to assure readers who form part of the North Yorkshire community, for whom I have a responsibility, that every effort is being made on their behalf by all members of North Yorkshire Police to reduce crime, increase detection rates and improve their quality of life.

We are making a significant impact on crime but in order to be successful we need to have proportionately effective equipment.

B Mitchell,

Chief Superintendent,

Area Commander,

Western Basic Command Unit,

North Yorkshire Police.

SIR - I read the letter from Mark Botham with great interest, and not a little sorrow at both his ignorance and his ability to be economical with

the facts.

Firstly, Mr Botham, you state that the joining age for the police force has never been 18. Oh really? Can I refer you to North Yorkshire Police force's website when (on Friday July 23 2004) they are inviting applicants for the position of officers? Minimum age requirement is - wait for it -18!

Secondly when you state that I repeat a misrepresentation, namely the figure of £60,000 per annum for superintendents. Could we remember who provided that figure to the press? It was indeed the Federation.

The truth is exactly as I wrote. An "average" superintendent receives £60,000 per annum. They will retire with a tax free lump sum of £150,000 after 30 years' service (whether they make the 30 years or have to retire early) and have an index linked pension of £30,000 per annum.

By far the largest percentage of that superb pension comes courtesy the council tax payer, the ones who have seen a trebling of police precept in

three short years.

As to the membership of CRAG, we are hale and (fairly) hearty, unlike North Yorkshire Police, who have years when very few of them make the 30 years necessary to achieve their pensions.

Another small point: Mr Botham seems, like many elected and unelected people in this country, to believe he has the right to question my authority when I complain that

pensioners are having to fund leather trimmed luxurious automobiles for staff.

I have every right to do that.

It is I, and tens of thousands of others in North Yorkshire who pay for this particular pipe band, including Mr. Botham. They are accountable to us, not we to them, and it is our right to question any luxury purchases made for some of these pipers.

Alan Perrow,

Craven Ratepayers' Action

Group,

Bannister Walk,

Cowling.

SIR - In response to Doug MacLeod's letter (Craven Herald July 16) Barclays does not believe he is a terrorist, nor do we have any reason to believe that the Amerdale Hall Entertainments Committee is a money laundering operation.

However, as a responsible financial services institution, it would be a dereliction of duty if we failed to comply with the legal and regulatory requirements which the UK Government and Financial Services Authority place upon us.

We have a great deal of sympathy for Mr MacLeod and others like him who give their time to community and charitable causes and feel that they are faced with a disproportionate burden of paperwork and administration by the banks.

Indeed, through our community budget we donated £32 million to such worthwhile causes in 2003.

However, in the fight against money laundering and terrorism, we cannot afford to let our guard slip, nor can we afford to create loopholes, which the criminals are certain to find and exploit in time.

We are lucky that Littondale is a community where people know their neighbours and participate in local activities and organisations. This is a precious thing.

If any charitable organisations feel they need assistance with completing mandates, our staff are more than happy to assist with the completion of forms and to explain any additional documentation that may be required.

Karen Swainston,

Barclays Regional Liaison

Manager,

Yorkshire and North East.

SIR - On behalf of the 31 carers who are boths and users of the service provided at The Snaygill Centre by NYCC County Care, I would like to reply to the comments made by Tony Mclntyre, group area manager (July 16).

I would point out that there are up to 25 people in and out of the centre each weekday, who are also being catered for at lunchtime as only a small number can be accommodated at Navigation House, the place being rather short on space.

One of the problems County Care have is that all 31 carers have written to the team manager stating that our "carees" must not use this place.

Another mis-statement refers to regular meetings between the centre staff and carers. Regrettably despite our requests for such meetings, we have never been allowed to get together with the staff, for whom we have a lot of respect.

The only meetings we can have are with the team manager David Taylor purely to discuss where our people are going to on outings during summer.

The college, which some access on learner support, is closed for 10 weeks, and the Craven Swimming Pool which allows disabled leisure swimming in the training pool for one hour on Tuesdays and between 11am and 4pm on Thursdays has disallowed this for the summer months. So much for "being in the community".

As all the holidaying schoolchildren can go, plus the full range of adults who don't have learning difficulties, this seems discriminatory.

No-one else would be expected to be on the move all the time, eat in cafes, supermarkets etc., at the height of the tourist season, be pushed in large wheelchairs over the High Street cobbles, and use third rate accommodation because in the three years since County Care started looking, very little has been forthcoming.

We are getting tired of being told that because of Tony Blair's White Paper our people have to be in the community all the time, whatever disabilities and difficulties they have, rain or shine, not strictly for their benefit, but also to educate you, the public, into accepting them.

Well I have news for the interpreters of visions - our people and thousands more like them, have always been part of the community, particularly their own communities, but they are not guinea pigs to be paraded here there and everywhere all day long.

They have the right to their own pride and dignity.

Catharine M Parker,

Long Ashes Park,

Threshfield.

SIR - I read, with some alarm, the view put forward by Mrs Bradley concerning the development at Long Preston.

Those of us unfortunate enough to actually have to stare at this Brookside style development, crammed into a tiny area, do not share her enthusiasm.

The fact the style of development could not be more out of place in the village is obvious to all. But such concerns are of little importance when there is a quick profit to be made.

Now we hear The Hartley Trust may consider selling Greenfield sites to developers ready for a quick killing.

How anybody can seriously put forward the view that we are so in need of land for development, that we need to ruin the beauty of our village for a short term profit of a few is incredible.

No Mrs Bradley, we are not pulling up drawbridges. We are saying keep building to brownfield sites, keep the beauty of the village for future generations to enjoy, and tell those looking profit at the village's expense to look elsewhere.

David Walmsley,

May Barn,

School Lane,

Long Preston.

SIR - Thank you for your editorial and the fair reporting re the closure of podiatry services at Cross Hills.

I would like to point out my remark about Skipton not being the centre of Craven was directed at Councillor Paul English whose remarks were reported in last week's paper.

I pointed out Craven councillors in the past had always united when there were threats of closures to health facilities, the last being the physical rehabilitation unit at Skipton General Hospital. I and many others were appalled by his selfish and arrogant attitude.

Perhaps one day he will be old with bad feet and reliant on public transport in bad weather. He may then change his tune.

Margaret Nicholson,

Jessamine Place,

Cross Hills.

SIR - I was interested to read in your supplement on the Countryside about the low stock of fish in The River Aire.

I am amazed that the Environment Agency seemed puzzled by the lack of fish. I am sure that if the agency staff walked the bank of the river they would notice one of the reasons for the lack of fish - this is the presence of large numbers of goosanders.

Last week I counted about 20 of these in one group on the river near Cononley. I have also seen large numbers around Funkirk.

These fish-eating ducks have increased greatly over the past few years. Four years ago I only saw the odd goosander. These ducks eat large numbers of fish, so I am sure one of the reasons for the decline in fish is due to this problem.

I do not think the addition of more fish will solve the problem. Maybe the Environment Agency should consider some form of control of the goosander population, which seems to have been successful on a number of Scottish rivers.

Brian Fisher,

Garth House,

Cononley.

SIR - I am writing to you on behalf of Craven Crafts to thank the arts development department of Craven District Council for the very generous donation of £200 towards our group.

We appreciate that they have many calls on their funding so are especially grateful that they considered us worthy recipients. This money will be put to good use by our group in helping to bring to more people the chance to be involved in craft learning opportunities.

As a group we intend to bring both old and new crafts to people in the form of hands-on opportunity and exhibition, both of which we hope will encourage more people to practise and pass on their skills.

In this day and age there is a need in rural areas to have these opportunities available within a reasonable distance of home at affordable cost. And with the cost of tutors, advertising, hall rental, etc, continuing to spiral, you can understand why we are so grateful for their support.

A lot of people are quick to knock the council, so we would like to take this opportunity, if possible, of thanking them through your newspaper.

Yvonne Marley,

On behalf of Craven Crafts,

Stonecroft,

Wigglesworth.

SIR - What reparation can be made to the people of Iraq, whose country was mercilessly bombed, then invaded, killing and maiming uncounted innocent victims?

Surely the instigators of this callous and inhumane "war" should be tried before an Iraqi court of law alongside Saddam Hussain.

K Clegg,

Town Head Bungalows,

Settle.