Sir, – I refer to the comments made by Mr Thornton, chairman of the Catterick Village Sports Association (D&S, Feb 4). The sodium lights in the Catterick Village sports field have been off for more than two years because they were too expensive to use.

Since then, the scout hut has had a new light, as has Rowan Court. Mr Thornton may remember that the association banned Ash Croft and Willow View residents from using their gates leading onto the cricket field in October 2009.

We had used our gate for 36 years as my husband was the groundsman all that time and took his mower etc out onto the field each week during the summer months. The association also banned the exercising of dogs in the field, but it allowed parents and friends of the junior football to bring their dogs onto the field.

Currently, there is a BMX track being built adjacent to the cricket field. The association obtained planning permission without an open public consultation with the residents adjacent to the sports field or the cricket club.

It did not complete a risk assessment before the planning meeting.

Last year, the association asked the cricket captain not to play matches on Monday evenings because it was dangerous for the youth club members if they were in the field during a cricket match.

The association does not consider it at all dangerous for BMX cyclists to cycle around the cricket field to reach the BMX track during a cricket match.

The association will, of course, be in discussions with the cricket club on this matter and I am sure common sense and health and safety regulations mean that the BMX track will have to be closed during cricket matches.

Maybe members of the Richmondshire District Council planning committee should visit the Catterick Village cricket field to see the condition of the area surrounding the field. Cricket starts again in two months.

J SAUNDERS (Mrs) Catterick Village.