Sir, – It is always good to hear the views of my fellow Hambleton councillors and I agree with a number of comments made by Andrew Robinson (D&S Times, March 27) such as the importance of contested seats and the need to get out and vote. However, I believe Andrew's vision of a 50/50 mix of Conservatives with other parties would be an absolute disaster for the district of Hambleton and ruin all the good work done by the Hambleton Conservatives which incidentally until recently Andrew was part of. We have a really good team of officers at Hambleton who steered by superb Conservative leadership can run the district as an efficient business without the political interference that has blighted other councils.

Andrew uses the example of York as a model that we should be copying; surprising given their parking charges are up to £2.50 per hour compared to our 60p. He could have mentioned Richmondshire where readers constantly remind us that the Independent-led council charges residents over £200 council tax on a band D property compared to the Hambleton equivalent remaining below £90. For the best example of the dangers of a local council operating with an all party mix look to another neighbour, Redcar and Cleveland Council. Recently they took their local housing plan to councillors for final approval. It was hijacked by the independent group, leaving the area without a five-year land supply enabling any developer with a good legal team to build in parts of the area where planning permission would not normally be granted. Do we want that in Hambleton?

DAVID HUGILL

Swainby, Northallerton.