Sir, – Writing about his Northallerton High Street project, Coun Hall tells us “it is now time to redress the balance and explain why the local council is driving the proposals forward”

(D&S, April 23). Unfortunately, he does no such thing.

He remarks on “unsubstantiated claims ... made regarding the cost”. The claims were “unsubstantiated”

because heretofore the cost has not been revealed.

Even now what we are told is imprecise.

He tells us Yorkshire Forward will provide some funding and it will be added to “monies drawn down from other external projects”, whatever that means.

My understanding is that agency money has to be matched locally, so these monies must be town-council monies? Then somewhat vaguely he tells us “there has been no expectation of the town council adding to the sum”. Did he mean adding some more? “In the order of £70,000” is in any case too much for taxpayers to pay for changes most do not want.

You recently reported the concerns of a parliamentary select committee about the impact of budget cuts on Yorkshire Forward and the reasons given for urging ministers not to reduce the agency’s budget (D&S, March 19).

It is difficult to see how taking more than six years (so far) planning to tart up Northallerton High Street fits what was reported.

Is it vital to the region’s economy? To boosting economic development? To regeneration?

To fighting the economic downturn? Why is Yorkshire Forward even involved in this unwanted folly?

Publication of his letter presented a golden opportunity to give us the facts, but Coun Hall merely said “local people” identified this as an area for improvement.

Who were these people? He again failed to give the results of the so-called consultation conducted last year and therefore yet again we are left to assume the results were not as “robust” as he has said.

We need the details if he is to be believed.

He says the town council is driving the proposals forward but failed to mention that at its meeting a month ago, the council decided parking spaces would not be lost as a result of this project. Given that the council voted against it democratically, then why is it apparently being driven forward?

I look forward to a better explanation from Coun Hall, but I will not be waiting with bated breath.

DAVID SEVERS Trinity Gardens, Northallerton