I MUST take issue with both the D&S Times and your contributor Harry Mead regarding the proposed state-of-the-art potash mining venture within the North Moors National Park (D&S Times, May 29).

Firstly, the Weekend section of your newspaper presented a full page spread of Mr Mead's views, which was dominated by a large photograph showing a test drilling rig during night operations to explore the range and scale of the potash deposits.

Although such test drillings are always of a very temporary nature, the impression given to the reader is of a gross intrusion on the surface of the landscape which suggests that worse is to come.

This photograph was simply not necessary to the article and seems intended to cause unnecessary concern.

Mr Mead's expressed opposition to the development of a very important national resource of worldwide significance also ignores the welfare of local inhabitants who live in an area with a relatively high unemployment level (especially in the coastal areas) and with one of the lowest per capita income levels in the country.

Mr Mead may enjoy a financially secure and comfortable lifestyle so why would he seek to oppose that sort of security for persons less fortunate?

The National Parks Management Plan accepts that there will always be challenges regarding preserving the park's status quo, ie permanent fossilisation or accepting the need for controlled development to meet the needs of real people who live and work within the park. Under the heading "Challenges", the National Park Plan states: "Supporting business in the National Park to create more employment, diversify the local economy and create more opportunities to live and work in the National Park."

Mr Mead argues that the construction of such a mining infrastructure within the park area would have a serious detrimental effect on tourism within the park. Pure nonsense! The Boulby Potash Mine is hugely more prominent on the park landscape than a state-of-the-art proposed Sneaton mine complex will ever be, and I have never heard of any tourist being put off coming to the area because of Boulby's existence.

The tourism body Welcome to Yorkshire, which is vastly experienced in the matter of what factors influence tourists visiting particular areas, says, with sound Yorkshire common sense, that weather and economy are by far the biggest single factors influencing tourism in any particular area.

Local employment will benefit on a huge scale as well as local support and service industries if this plan to exploit a very important national resource goes ahead. It will command a truly worldwide fertiliser market – essential for future world food production.

Live and let live, Harry!

Malcolm Bisby, Kildale, Whitby.