Feeding freedom: I am replying to the letters from Anne Stewart “Animal welfare” (D&S Times letters, Apr 19) and Sheila Sims “Intensive farming” (D&S Times letters, Apr 26).

I have no great knowledge of the pig or poultry industry, however I understand that the idea of cows being kept indoors all year round may seem wrong and in an ideal world they may be happier outside on sunny days.

However, there have been many "revolutions" in farming from the development of the Iron Age plough, the Ferguson tractor, silage and crucially in my time the invention of big bale silage allowing good quality feed to be made without continuous days of sunshine.

Being brought up on a small hill farm in the Yorkshire Dales in the 1960s and 70s I clearly remember the struggle we had trying to make hay on steep sided meadows producing poor quality hay in inclement weather.

Once made, even the best quality hay did not match up to the goodness and palatability of silage. Also, in those days, cattle from a young age were tied up by the neck for six months of the year to stand in a concrete "boose" and fed this often poor quality hay, let out for a drink of water twice or perhaps only once a day. They would be "turned out" in the spring often in poor condition to a minimal amount of grass. Would today's modern dairy cow swap this for their modern building where they can have access to as much quality food as they desire, exercise, (yes there is room for this) communicate with their companions, lie content and dry and be regularly overlooked by experienced vets and stock-people? No, I don't think so.

In other words cattle, and sheep for that matter, have never been as well cared for.

With the government's support following the Second World War, which resulted in the country being desperately short of food, farmers were encouraged to produce, and this they did spectacularly well.

From this point onwards there was a steady reduction in the cost of food as a percentage of earnings. Both public and farmers benefited.

Now unbelievably, good food-producing farmland is being used for the planting of trees and siting of solar panels.

Humans have existed on this earth for millions of years and finally with knowledge, modern technology and machinery we are in a position to feed all, but are not allowed the freedom to do so.

"Man with full stomach has many worries, man with empty stomach has but one".

Stephen Walker, livestock auctioneer, Leyburn.

Pothole misery

“THERE’S a report of a hole in the road and PM Sunak is looking into it”, it’s an old joke but the picture in the D&S Times shows a fairly pathetic road surface disturbance – “Thousands of potholes are repaired in last four years” (D&S Times, Apr 19).

To see a better range of seriously deep potholes that has taken years of careful preparation by the council, he should take a stroll from Kirby Sigston down to Fullicar Lane in Brompton where the pinnacle of asphalt abuse has wasted tens of thousands of council tax payers’ money by allowing the latest random infilling to be washed, literally, down the nearest gully when it rains the next day.

When the Tory government cut £10bn from the country’s road maintenance budget it doomed England’s roads to permanent decline.

Mr Sunak is either ignorant of the measures that should be taken to maintain road surfaces, or he is wilfully throwing tax and council tax payers' money down the drain when encouraging the filling of potholes.

A pothole is an admission of a failed road maintenance programme.

D S Robinson, Brompton.

Road maintenance

MY household yesterday (Apr 16), received by post the Returning Officer’s guide to the candidates for the May 2 election of a mayor of the Tees Valley Combined Authority.

On page eight is a brief explanation of the difference between the Combined Authority and the five councils working “in partnership”.

The guide lists five local services delivered by the five councils, including street cleaning, etc, with the Combined Authority focused on the “economic growth of the wider Tees Valley, its powers and funding to come from central government, not from local councils”.

This brief explanation of the difference simply re-enforces the public’s view that the blame game between the two hides the conflict that means that economic growth does not include the abysmal lack of street maintenance and cleaning and one of the most important local services, highway and footpath maintenance which do not get a mention.

Only one of the three election addresses listed in the guide from the three candidates for mayor makes any reference to the issue, with a pledge to “fix our broken roads”.

This is simply not good enough, a view I feel sure will be supported by any motorist that has experienced vehicle suspension damage as a result of either poor or the neglect of individual local council’s roads and footpaths across the “wider Tees Valley”.

This startling apparent lack of concern for dealing with improvements to the highway network to the worst roads and footpaths is in sharp contrast to the significant number of political representatives we now have, beginning with five MPs, councillors for the five councils, one existing elected mayor of a borough, and then the elected mayor for the Tees Valley.

Will the successful candidate please investigate, working “in partnership with the five councils” and if necessary “kick a few backsides” before the Tees Valley roads and footpaths, currently in a dangerous condition, disintegrate altogether.

Edward Grainger, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough.

Town council

ON behalf of Northallerton Town Council I would like to thank Janet Gleeson for her coverage of the town council’s activities in recent years, and wish her a long and healthy retirement.

Janet has given up numerous Monday evenings to report on council meetings and, while we try to keep our meetings relevant to the community and businesslike, no doubt she has occasionally wished that she were elsewhere.

Nevertheless, the coverage we have received has always been accurate, balanced and fair.

We believe that press and public scrutiny is important for local democracy and that press coverage is an essential part of engaging with our residents.

We hope that the D&S will continue to cover our meetings in the interests of supporting local democracy; your reporters will always be welcome!

Phil Eames, mayor, Northallerton Town Council.

Ceremonial horses

IT was devastating to see multiple horses running scared through central London last Wednesday, after bolting from training with the Household Cavalry.

This shocking incident has triggered national conversation – why are horses still being used for ceremonial purposes when the impacts can be so harmful?

A horse’s role within the Household Cavalry is purely for spectacle and show; they are used ornamentally.

Similarly, horses are exploited in cities across the world to pull carriages for tourists, despite mass campaigning for a ban.

Collisions which harm both humans and horses are common, and yet the abuse continues.

Using animals for human amusement – which, at its core, is why horses are used by the Household Cavalry – is simply unacceptable.

It is difficult to comprehend the panic and fear those horses must have felt.

City centres are no place for horses, and horses are not objects for humans.

Fiona Pereira, campaign manager, Animal Aid.

Nationalisation plans

ONE of Labour’s proposals in their General Election battle plan is renationalise the railways, already partially achieved by the present Government.

However, governments of any hue don’t have a particularly good track record when it comes to rail.

Passengers are promised a simplified and more straightforward fare and ticketing regime.

If a Labour government attains that objective, will it be at the cost of increased fares?

At least travellers might begin to understand the esoteric and convoluted charges, but they may have to pay for this clarity.

If Labour has this nationalisation urge, I wish they’d turn their attention to the utilities.

Derek Reed, York.

Tackling off-road bikes

WITH reference to the article “Registration calls for off-road bikes” (D&S Times, Apr 26).

I'm afraid that Peter Gibson may be very disappointed if he thinks that the registration of off road motorcycles will reduce the problem that causes his constituents genuine concern.

Police Superintendent Neal Bickford is honest when he describes the issue “as horrifically difficult to tackle”.

The majority of motorcycles that are used in anti-social activities will have been obtained by criminal means or bought as insurance write-offs through dealers and auctions.

The users have no regard for the law and conduct themselves with no regard for the safety of the general public.

They are not the type of people who are going to register their motorcycles.

Finding the culprits requires information from within the communities that are suffering, good old fashioned policing backed up by modern technology would be my approach.

Peter Gibson, I would respectfully suggest you change tack and work towards legislation which will require all written-off motorcycles to be crushed along with any seized by the police.

Timothy Wood, Guisborough.

Fundraising thanks

JUST two weeks ago I had my head shaved to raise money for The Sir Robert Ogden Centre at the Friarage Hospital.

My initial target was £1,000, to date with overwhelming donations of over £7,300 I wish to put a massive thank you to patients from my workplace Leyburn Dental Practice, family, friends and the local community for their generosity.

I have received warmth and support I never expected from so many people, we are so lucky to live in a community that cares so much about our local facilities.

The Friarage Hospital are so grateful for the donations they will receive.

Having met the fundraising coordinator and the sisters from the Sir Robert Ogden Centre last week the funds will certainly go to good use.

Without my bosses and work colleagues who have allowed me to use them as a platform to promote my fundraising challenge the whole process would not have been as successful and I certainly wouldn’t have had the unconditional emotional support from the amazing team I am lucky enough to work with.

Thank you to each and every one of them.

Donations can be made to www.justgiving.com/page/sarah-robinson-1708549193058 until May 16, 2024, cash donations can also be made at Leyburn Dental Practice until then.

Sarah Robinson, Leyburn.