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Comment

THE good ladies of Richmond could well feel somewhat slighted by no lesser organ than the Sunday Times this week which compared the shape and attire of the town's typical female citizens with those of Harrogate.

Described as matronly, Richmond's fairer sex were contrasted with Harrogate pashmina and pearl-hung ladies. What's more, they were said to be likely to be purchasing brisket, the suggestion being that they could not afford the pricier cuts of meat.

Spectator suggests Richmond's matron should take this as a back-handed compliment. They, of course, have the good sense to realise brisket is an excellent cut of meat, provided it is carefully cooked. Slowly braised, it can be as tender as the finest piece of fillet steak.

Parking nightmare

SPECTATOR was on his jollies last week, spending a week in the Cornish town of St Ives, which in many ways reminded him of Whitby - warmer with better beaches and restaurants but more agressive seagulls (watch your ice cream).

Parking is a nightmare there.

Leaving a vehicle anywhere - long stay or short stay - is fraught with difficulties because there is so little provision. The cost of a weekly ticket was £33, which puts the now resolved recent spat in Northallerton, Thirsk, Bedale and Stokesley into an interesting perspective.

Act now

WE suspect the unrest in the further-flung parts of Richmondshire about the introduction of wheelie-bins is developing a momentum the council would do well to stop.

Our letters page has yet another well-drafted missive on the issue this week and the former council leader, Coun John Blackie, has now weighed in on the issue.

Given Coun Blackie's ability to mobilise his upper dales' constituents to a cause, the council might think it best to nip this one in the bud promptly.

The chief concern seems to be the lane-end collections for the elderly and to some degree or other the infirm. There's also the issue of how unsightly the bins can look in a landscape of special importance.

Given the national park authority's planning powers, which can dictate all manner of conditions on matters affecting that landscape, one would have thought there could be some way it could intervene to protect that landscape.

Unfortunately, wheelie bins temporarily placed by a roadside are not the sort of objects the park can exercise any influence over. More's the pity.

All a bit sick

NORTH Yorkshire Police's sickness record has been in the past a matter of public concern. So it perhaps comes as no surprise that the Police Federation has suggested that officers are now trying to avoid being off sick because of the loss of allowances.

There's obviously a bit of a crackdown going on and all power to chief constable Grahame Maxwell's elbow. Spectator understands there has been a longstanding "cultural problem"

about sick leave among officers of all ranks going back years.

Metro madness

BRAVE words from businessman Trevor Arnold, who is to return to his home town of Middlesbrough after carrying out huge developments in Dubai.

Mr Arnold believes he can bring about a development on Teesside to match Tyneside's MetroCentre.

Given the current state of retailing in the area, that's the last thing the area needs, Spectator would suggest.

12:06pm Friday 4th July 2008

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