Sir, – Skeeby Parish Council would welcome the opportunity to comment on the inaccurate content of letters which appeared in the D&S (Mar 21) relating to the installation of speed cushions and the use of matrix boards.

North Yorkshire Police are not responsible for the deployment of matrix boards. This is the remit of the Hambleton and Richmondshire Community Safety Partnership (HRCSP – a combined body with representatives from North Yorkshire Police Authority, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, North Yorkshire County Council Highways Department, county councillors from both Hambleton and Richmondshire, road safety officers and others).

The request by Skeeby Parish Council for matrix boards to be sited in the village was refused by HRCSP, who also stated that it was aware that speed cushions would be reinstated within a very short period of time following its response to the request from Skeeby Parish Council.

Councillor Michael Heseltine has stated that to his knowledge there were no figures to suggest increased traffic through either Gilling West or Brompton-on-Swale.

He further added that the reported comments regarding the non-control of speed by cushions attributed to North Yorkshire County Council was unfounded hearsay and did not emanate from any North Yorkshire County Council officer.

Claims against the county council can only be made for damage caused by serious neglect and not from faulty driving and, arguably, potholes present more likelihood of damage to vehicles than speed cushions which, if driven over correctly, should cause no damage to vehicles.

Residents who have lived in the village much longer than Mr Fenwick can recall several serious accidents and a fatality, as well as numerous non-life threatening crashes.

Since the installation of speed cushions, the high incidence of accidents has mercifully been reduced and Skeeby Parish Council is keen for this state of affairs to continue.

COUNCILLOR PAUL RUMMERY Chairman, Skeeby Parish Council.