Sir, – Firstly, I am pleased that Hambleton Council has extended the free parking time in its car parks, which will certainly help with the current problems in the retail sector.

However, I am a little puzzled by the separate proposed action to buy the prison site, with several million pounds having been allocated.

Firstly, I am surprised the money is available when cut backs, redundancies etc have taken place over the last few years. I also do not understand why the council feels the need to purchase the site when its own planning department would have to approve any development anyway?

I agree with the council that this is a excellent opportunity for the town; however as someone who has lived in the town for most of my life and having carried out a business here for over 30 years I am surprised by some of the suggested usages.

A family-friendly pub is mentioned, although there are several pubs in the High Street, many of which are family-friendly already; indeed I have never heard anyone say that what the town lacks is a family-friendly pub.

In addition a similar idea is being suggested for part of the Rutson site, for which planning permission has been submitted, the addition of one such premises is debatable, two seems ridiculous.

Again the idea of shops/supermarket must be looked at carefully. The town has several shops empty at present, with little demand except for more takeaways and sandwich shops.

The site does present an opportunity but it must add to and not further detract from the main retail use of the High Street, otherwise its slow but steady decline will sadly continue.

MIKE DARWIN

South Parade, Northallerton