Ruts were caused by farm vehicles

First of all, why are these ruts so newsworthy? You can see them on any farm in the country. They are not unique to the Yorkshire Dales National Park. They may look sensational to some people, but they have been there for generations.

Nothing much has deteriorated lately and they are as much a part of country life (since the advent of the internal combustion engine) as cow muck on a Tarmac road.

They were originally caused by farm vehicles, not recreational ones, and farmers are quite entitled to do what they wish with their own land.

I live at one end of Mastiles Lane and have done so virtually all my life, and I can confirm there have been ruts up there since I first rode over it in the 1960s.

It has to be said that these lanes are actually roads and just because the North Yorkshire County Council has decided not to maintain them, does not mean they are not roads.

The Yorkshire Dales National Parks Authority have no more right to close them than they have to close the M1.

All main roads as we know them will become green lanes if we give up using them, but they will not become footpaths and these routes are not footpaths either.

It seems to me this has little to do with the abuse of green lanes, but is simply someone trying to justify their job. Ruts on these routes are as fundamental as the routes themselves.

Two hundred years ago all routes were like this and when it rained coaches got bogged down in their own ruts. That is why these old routes are mainly on high ground for drainage. Perhaps we should have surfaced all these old routes - I don't think so.

If the Highways people spent a little of the money we pay them in petrol tax and VAT on these routes to maintain them, there would be little evidence of erosion.

Why was it necessary in the article to say "all vehicles and motor bikes will be banned". I would have thought motorbikes were already covered by all vehicles. If you look at the photograph you will see it is impossible for motorbikes to have made these ruts.

The one thing that could cause a problem is if these ruts become so deep that 4x4s can't get through them and decide to use land parallel to them, thereby increasing the erosion effect.

I went up there to have a look and have got to say most of the tracks running alongside were tractor traffic, not 4x4, and I would be the first to admit that farmers and land owners have every right to cause ruts on their own land. I think I have come full circle.

If you are as old as I am, you will know I am telling the truth. If, however you saw these ruts for the first time last week you can be excused for thinking otherwise, especially if you do not walk on Mastles Lane and others very often.

Perhaps it's not the walkers who are complaining - if not, who is it?

We need visitors of all kinds to the Dales including motor bikes to keep revenue coming in. We don't live in a museum and the ramblers have plenty of footpaths they can erode, which we as bikers can't use.

We have no objection to them walking on our public roads, but don't try to stop us riding our legal motorcycles on these legal routes. Enough is enough.

WM Smith,

Grassington.

SIR - Craven people may not be aware that a moving and relevant play, New Life, is being performed in the area because the publicity, in spite of the importance of the topic to us, appears to be nil.

I refer to the play, New Life, by Maureen Lawrence, who is known in Craven for her sensitive treatment of vital rural issues.

Many people will have seen The Life of the Land, where she explored farming issues around diversity. The local audiences for this were large and enthusiastic.

New Life examines rural issues during and after foot and mouth disease. In East Yorkshire, the play was well-advertised and played to large and responsive farming audiences. One farmer who attended said it was "a cracker".

So what is happening in Craven? I wouldn't have known about the play at all if I had not known the people connected with it.

Even so, I had great difficulty getting a ticket for the Skipton Auction Mart performance on October 17. Tickets were only available from the town hall, and even some of the people on the counter didn't know they were there.

Usually, an event so intimately concerned with the district would have been given a good spread in the Craven Herald at the very least.

Yes, the topic is sensitive - were there fears it would have caused upset? If the (too small) auction mart audience, which included people involved in farming, is anything to go by, it will not upset people. It will be, in the words of one, "illuminating".

There are two more chances to see this moving and carthartic play on October 29 in Arncliffe Village Hall and October 30 in Settle Victoria Hall. So come on, Craven, give it a go.

Margaret Billing,

Haynholme,

Draughton.

* Editor's note: the play was previewed in the Craven Herald, and advertised on the front page.

SIR - To put Mr Fox's mind at rest ("Sandstone Anomaly", Craven Herald, October 18) the red sandstone arch, to which he refers, will not be visible in the landscape.

In his letter, Mr Fox refers to a recent decision of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority's Planning Committee to approve an application for the erection of a sheepfold and shepherd's hut north of Thornton-in-Lonsdale.

This application was brought to the authority as part of the Drove Arch project by Andy Goldsworthy, a world famous artist. To date, the project has seen the construction and dismantling of a small sandstone arch at 23 sites on the Old Scotch Road drove route. As a result 12 sheepfolds on route have been renovated.

The application for the shepherd's hut, a traditional stone building, will now provide the final resting place for the arch at the end of its journey from Dumfries and Galloway.

The arch will be sited inside the hut and will only be viewable by looking through a window in the door. Meanwhile, the restored sheepfold will once again become a working feature in the landscape.

The project is a celebration of the hill farming community's historic and enduring relationship with the landscape.

It received planning permission from this authority as the sheepfold and shepherd's hut will not only enhance the fabric of the landscape but they will also raise awareness of the area's cultural heritage, meeting our objectives as a national park authority.

Gary Smith,

Head of conservation and

policy,

Yorkshire Dales National Park

Authority,

Colvend,

Hebden Road,

Grassington.

SIR - Regarding Craven's housing concern, I would like to draw attention to a growing problem.

The row of houses on which I live are slowly losing all sense of community spirit. There is currently nothing to stop each house being sold at an over-inflated price as a holiday cottage.

The increase in prices means that local people cannot afford to buy a small cottage in the village. In our area alone there are already five holiday homes.

Obviously, people on holiday do not spend all their time in the village. They, therefore, have no need or interest in village issues, or much regard for the lives of the people who live in the area.

I also wish to point out that building new houses and gradually spreading the outskirts of the village is not only environmentally unfriendly, but also makes a transition from a village to a town for Ingleton.

Thus, it ruins the very atmosphere which people come to visit.

Therefore, I feel very strongly that existing houses be made accessible to the younger generation.

The community spirit would be kept without spoiling the village itself (as the example set in Clapham). The current trend for expansion and building cheap new housing is a damaging and short-sighted view of village life. I trust my views, which are shared by many others, will be taken into account.

C Stephenson and C Wright,

Laburnum Cottages,

Ingleton.

SIR - We feel we must write to congratulate one of your local junior rugby teams for outstanding sportsmanship. The team in question is West Craven Warriors ARLFC U15.

On Sunday October 20, we watched our team (Deighton from Huddersfield) inflict an extremely heavy defeat on West Craven at Barnoldswick. However West Craven never once let their heads drop and continued attempting to play some attractive open rugby.

The players continually encouraged each other and always accepted refereeing decisions gracefully. The phrase "foul play" did not appear in the West Craven dictionary!

After the game both the players and supporters, despite their obvious disappointment, went to great lengths to praise their opponents.

We would like to say thank you to the players, coaches and supporters of West Craven Warriors for their hospitality and sportsmanship.

They are a credit to their club and community.

Jacqueline Haigh,

Fixtures Secretary

Deighton ARLFC U15.

SIR - I attended a well organised charity garden party during the summer. The event was held in Eastby, and was supported by a great variety of locals, all eager to empty their pockets and raise money for the Sarah McKie Memorial Fund.

The evening was brought to a close with a grand charity auction. The vast array of items on offer was donated through the generosity of local people and businesses.

The final "lot" was dinner for 10 people, cooked and served in your own home, compliments of Denis Watkins and his team from the Angel Inn, Hetton.

Well, some close friends, myself and other members of my family were successful in our bid for this most prestigious of prizes, which we received on Saturday evening.

No expense was spared with the preparation and delivery of this magnificent fare. Mr Watkins and his excellent team really entered into the spirit of the evening, making it a night to truly remember.

I am told Mr Watkins offers this service quite often for charity, and, should any of your readers get the chance to bid for this prize in the future, I would wholly recommend it.

IJ Brewster,

Priory View,

Embsay.

SIR - I am very impressed with the coverage and treatment given by your paper to the recent art exhibition and sale held at Ingleton Community Centre in aid of the NSPCC.

The event was organised by my brother and myself in conjunction with the local branch of the charity and we feel certain that your paper played a great part towards the success of the event which raised what must be a record figure for a local art show.

A total of 173 pictures painted by our late aunt, Mrs Catherine Lockwood of Gale Green Cottage, Westhouse, sold for more than £4,500.

In particular we wish to commend your reporter, Sue Marshall, for the way in which she interviewed me and described the event. It was a very professional piece of work.

Roger Davis,

Wollaton Road,

Bradway,

Sheffield.

SIR - Why have they closed the Victoria Hall market in Settle on Tuesdays. It's what folk look forward to once a week.

Why can't they use the evenings for whatever purposes?

Most people like to browse out of the cold for a while. Pity the market isn't two days a week, now winter is here.

They should think of the elderly who can't shop further afield.

Mrs F Hall,

Kendalmans,

Settle.

* Editor's note: We are told that the market was only closed for one week while Settle Amateur Operatic Society staged Half A Sixpence. It will be business as usual next week.

SIR - Once again the generosity of Skipton and district residents is reflected in the result of two collection days recently held at Tesco, Skipton, which raised £1,097.

Through your columns, we would like to thank Skipton Rotary Club and volunteer collectors for their help, and, of course, everyone who contributed.

Ann Barker,

Chairman,

Skipton and District

Committee,

Macmillan Cancer Relief.