Sir, – Malcolm Rainforth (D&S, June 27) objected to Gary Verity suggesting some who do not like the Tour de France might be whingers.

When Mr Rainforth previously complained in the D&S he suggested there would be no emergency veterinary cover and implied all cows drop calves on the tour weekend.

Both are untrue.

He says he has been told churches cannot open yet St Matthews in Leyburn is serving refreshments all day and even has a yellow bike on the church steeple. He talks about businesses that can’t open – they can if they want to with the banks near the route open to 6pm on Saturday.

There is motor vehicle disruption but race route crossings are open to vehicles until about three hours before the race arrives. You can safely cross a closed road on foot.

The disruption is less than a good winter snow and Yorkshire folk get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get close to the biggest annual sporting event in the world.

With over 40 Dales fields converted to parking (farmers don’t do that for nowt), most accommodation sold out over a year ago, 100ft television screens in most Dales villages and decorations on nearly every house in Swaledale it may upset Mr Rainforth to hear the vast majority are embracing the event 100 per cent.

Tourism will have an 18-month boost – good for the Yorkshire economy as tourism employs many more people than farming. Estate agents are happy as house prices usually rise five to ten-per-cent after the tour television helicopters show beautiful landscapes like the Dales or the Waterside at Knaresborough where Mr Rainforth lives to 200,000,000 world wide.

Mr Rainforth says nobody asked him – as he got so many facts wrong why should they bother.

LEONARD SHEPHERD Leyburn.