Sir, – Now that it’s all over, I wondered if all those who wrote to the D&S complaining about the inconvenience of the Tour de France coming to a road near them might realise what a set of mealymouthed whingers they sounded, especially when compared to how others entered into the spirit of a such a great sporting event taking place in our region?

We had a letter from an immature over-grown public school boy using posh words, another verging on hysteria about being locked-in and an almost narcissistic one about lack of consultation. This past week the Great Yorkshire Show will have taken place, with its usual traffic congestion, diversions and delays, particularly on the first day. Was I asked if I wanted the GYS? No I was not! But I’m pleased to see respective enthusiasts enjoying the annual threeday event and I will use alternative routes, as I always do and just get on with it, as doubtless will others.

After all, there is a much nastier threat to the North Yorkshire countryside and rural way of life than a few temporary road closures. That is Government changes to planning laws, permitting large-scale developments on greenbelt and a “blowyou”

attitude displayed to local people, councils and planning officers by developers who can do whatever they like – otherwise if they don’t get their own way, they will appeal in court and if they are successful, thanks to a law introduced by Margaret Thatcher, the councils i.e.

tax-paying public have to pick up the tab.

Years back, Mike Keeble was barracking John Prescott (Labour) for creating a “Concrete pavement”

of rural industrial estates. I don’t seem to read many letters by landowners and farmers complaining about all the recent greenbelt developments and a “Tarmac Pavement”, probably because they are set to make lots of money out of it too?

There is an example of this taking place a Great Ayton right now.

Prime agricultural productive land being stripped by a developer. And yet the politicians, civil servants and landowners will ignore the article in the D&ST about the UK’s lack of food self-sufficiency. Sixty-eight per cent is inexcusable and one day they might realise their stupidity in creating this?

Considering recent events in the Middle East and our life-styles being geared-up to imported crude oil (ask Dr Beeching) such dependence on food imports is absurd and a shameful situation for us to be in!

PAUL LAZENBY Haxby, York.