Sir, – I must say these past few weeks have proved rather unedifying for Richmondshire District Council. First, their creeping council taxes have rightly been criticised once again, as pointed out rather eloquently by Lynne Kemp (D&S Times, March 20). I shall not repeat arguments she has already covered excellently but in short she speaks on behalf of the majority of Richmondshire residents. We do not believe it is fair that just because an individual lives on the wrong side of Kiplin Hall they somehow owe the tax man several extra hundred pounds. We also do not believe it is fair that as recompense for this, we are have no CCTV to prevent vicious crimes taking place in our backyard.

And we absolutely could do with stopping crime around here - I now read of the egregiously violent behaviour of Jane Parlour, one of Richmond Independents' leading councillors, in the national papers. Not only has she been found guilty of assaulting her neighbour in a court of her peers but Richmondshire District Council planning committee has approved a shocking barn which utterly obscures this victim's property, no doubt reducing its value. The chair of that committee is, of course, Jane Parlour herself.

And now, week in, week out I have to read about how the leader of the council, who openly supports Jane Parlour in all her activities, not only feels no need to apologise, but wants to stand for election to Parliament as well. He already receives my council tax. He and Ms Parlour are paid their stipend from my income tax. He receives more taxpayer subsidy as a county councillor. And now he wants £70,000 more from the state's diminished coffers without giving up any of these positions. Perhaps it is because he is so busy that he has not noticed his planning committee being used to add insult to injury and ruin someone else's land.

I would like Richmondshire to be reported in the national papers for being the finest England has to offer and a place so good you don't want to leave. This is simply and unequivocally not good enough - I've never been so happy to have a local election coming up.

MR & MRS TAYLOR

Richmond.