Alternative site

IT is obvious from the responses by Hambleton District Council and the Showmen's Guild to my observation that Northallerton May Fair should be moved out of the High Street that nobody from those organisations had seen the many postings on social media relating to this issue (D&S Times, Yorkshire edition, May 13).

Indeed Mark Rontree of Northallerton made similar points to mine on the D&S Times' own letters page in the same edition.

All the authorities concerned with the May Fair including North Yorkshire County Council should be encouraged to find an alternative site because the event has outgrown the High Street by some considerable size.

When the Royal Charter was granted many hundreds of years ago it was granted to the parish of Northallerton, not specifically the High Street. So now a little bit of forward thinking is needed to find an alternative site which better meets the needs of the town and the Showmen's Guild.

Tony Webster, Northallerton.

Election thanks

NOW that the dust has settled on the North Yorkshire County Council elections, I’d like to say a big thank you to everybody who voted for me in Hipswell and Colburn. It was a close-run thing but I’m honoured to be given the opportunity to represent residents in this division.

A lot of hard work goes into an election campaign and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my wife and family, which does of course include my boxer, Marvin. Also, the team at Richmond Constituency Green Party delivered thousands of leaflets and Anna Jackson worked tirelessly as our elections agent. I’m extremely grateful to them all.

It’s an interesting and challenging time for North Yorkshire and there will be lots of challenges ahead as we transition to the new unitary authority. It’s also an exciting time for the Green Party and with five councillors elected, we have a strong voice at county level at last. For the next five years we’ll work together to do our best for residents and make North Yorkshire a fairer, cleaner and better place to live.

Kevin Foster, Councillor for Hipswell and Colburn.

Corporate courts

OUR local Global Justice group will be joining in with other groups across Europe in a national day of action today, May 21. On that day we will be drawing attention to a little known issue, that of the so-called corporate courts.

These courts are totally separate from any nation's legal system. If a company is operating in a particular country and believes that the government of that country is passing laws that will impact on its profits then it is able to take the country to a completely secret tribunal and sue them for millions of pounds. The fear of these courts is stopping some countries from enacting legislation that would have benefits for its people.

For example the owners of the Keystone oil pipeline, a Canadian company called TC Energy are suing the US after President Joe Biden cancelled the pipeline on climate change grounds. They are demanding an astronomical $15bn. The pipeline was intended to carry tar sands oil from Canada to the US.

In the Netherlands the government passed a law to phase out the use of coal fired power stations and they offered compensation to the affected companies. However the two companies that run them are now going to sue in the hope of getting a massive payout in the corporate courts.

There are many other similar shocking examples from around the world. These corporate courts are preventing countries taking the urgent action that is needed in order to tackle climate change. It is expected that there will be an increase in cases as more countries try to meet the goals set at COP21.

Barbara Welford, secretary of Global Justice Cleveland.

People before profits

IN response to the article headlined "House building ban is an overreaction says mayor" (D&S Times, May 13), regarding developments near the River Tees or any of its tributaries being put on hold due to Natural England's advice on mitigating water pollution.

Of course the impact will be felt on those developments proposed near the river, however, if developments are allowed to proceed in these areas, the adverse impact upon the public water supply, our children and habitats will be catastrophic.

People before profits Mr Mayor!

Name and address supplied.

Marginal gains

BORO’S uninspiring, green away strip could have made the marginal difference between success and failure in escaping from the Championship.

Their home kit’s great because, psychologically, "red for danger" puts fear into the minds of the opposition. Look at Liverpool, and Manchester United in their hey-day. White also gives a team an advantage by making players appear bigger and instantly visible to their team-mates.

The biggest mistake on strip colour came in the semi-final of Euro 96 when England wore a grey kit against Germany, in white. I’m convinced that, had England gone with the World Cup-winning red shirts of 1966, we’d have had a clear win in normal time, thus avoiding eventual defeat in the penalty shoot-out.

Speaking of shooting, by going green, Boro shot themselves in the foot. A better colour choice of away strip could well have made the difference between a play-off place and also-ran status.

Chris Wilder must change Boro’s away strip. Why unnecessarily handicap yourself?

Steve Kay, deputy leader, Redcar and Cleveland Council.

Incredible courage

NOW that professional football player Jake Daniels has been brave enough to come out as gay, it would be a real shame if we didn't know of a squad of 11 professional players in the beautiful game here in the UK who are openly gay by the time a week or so has passed. What an incredibly courageous young man.

Cllr Nigel Boddy, Darlington.

Amazon clean-up

PHOTOS of County Durham on the day of the City of Culture judges’ visit are a record of the glory that can be seen in our area (D&S Time Co Durham edition, May 13). What is less apparent is the genius of the photographers who take them.

The desire to make Durham City the nation’s City of Culture is warming because it is testament to the inspired people who have built it over the centuries.

It is a sad contrast that Amazon has been brought to Darlington. Travel along the A66 bypass and several drab Amazon lorries will be seen parked up. Why are they left so close to their factory? Is it free advertising? They should be ashamed of their appearance and hide it, certainly not flaunt it.

Get closer to Amazon and rows of more drab lorries will be seen, possibly bragging again but unsightly anyway.

The lowlight of the trip is the corner of the site where a tangle of filth is caught in the wire fence.

Use your wealth Amazon to hide your ugly self or at least clean yourself up.

Chris Pattison, Richmond.

Wonderful help

WE would like to use your columns to thank several young people who came to our aid following an accident on the night of Monday, May 9, in Durham.

These days lots of negative attention is given to young people and overworked NHS staff and services but we would like to try and redress this by acknowledging all the wonderful help, support and kindness that was shown to both of us at a time when we really needed it the most.

My friend and I had been on a day trip to Durham to attend the performance of La Boheme at The Gala theatre. On making our way back to the car park I stumbled and fell, badly gashing my face and breaking my glasses.

Immediately we were given assistance by two girls who had been waiting at the bus stop opposite and while one girl dialled 999 the other went to buy a bottle of water. Unfortunately, we did not get the names of these two wonderful girls.

These two un-named girls were quickly joined by three others, Jess from the Three Bridges in North Road, Milly and Leah. All of these girls were shining examples of young people at their very best, refusing to leave us and so stayed and supported us for over an hour.

We would also like to thank Sharon, one of the night sisters on duty at Durham's A&E department. She too was a complete star! Very kind, helpful and supported both of us through a very distressing experience.

Girls, and Sharon, you know who you are and Durham should be as proud of you as you should be of yourselves. Thank you all.

Graham Batcheler and Janet Richley, North Yorkshire.

One set down

WALKING in the Denes in Darlington on another beautiful morning, I found it very sad that the tennis nets are still not up. It is the same in Stanhope Park.

When I was involved in Friends of the Denes, the nets always used to go up on April 1, which was always just after the clocks changed and seemed a sensible date. This year, we have missed the two-week Easter holidays, the early May Bank Holiday and lots of beautiful weather in between.

I am lucky enough to have a car and to be able to afford to play at Wellfield Tennis Club in High Coniscliffe but this is not the case for most people.

We should be encouraging all sport for all people.

Sadly, I have seen lots of people out playing tennis over an invisible net.

Please could the council resolve this issue as soon as possible? I would urge you to consider having the nets up all year round. Tennis is not just for the two weeks at Wimbledon.

Katherine Butterfield, Darlington.

Purse frustration

RECENTLY I lost my purse containing cash, credit and debit cards and various store cards. As readers will imagine this was very stressful and worrying, but I was really dismayed to find I could not report this to the Durham Police.

Apparently they don’t take reports of lost property, and neither can I find out if it has been handed in. I have tried all the permutations on the phone and their website, but have not been not able to find out if they have it.

I even asked the question "what do I do if I found a purse" online but it seems it would be my responsibility to reunite it with the owner.

I have read and heard lots of comments about the police not wanting to know these days, but I have always been supportive of them. Until now. They really don’t want to know, unless I happened to be going a bit faster than I should be.

As I’m almost certain I left it on the bus to Northallerton, I reported it to North Yorkshire Police, and while they don’t take details they at least could tell me it hadn’t been handed in.

Ann Huckin, East Cowton.