THE railway line between Pickering and Rillington should be retained in the hope that the link between Pickering and Malton will eventually be re-opened.

This was stated in a report issued by the North York Moors Historic Railway Trust presented to Monday’s meeting of Scarborough District Council Policy and Resources Committee.

The statement on the controversial Pickering Station and on the North Riding County Council’s Newton Dale study report says any proposal to re-open the line would provide a vital link with North Yorkshire and the national park, and would not be opposed by the trust.

“If such a development was necessary, it would be on account of a major change in transport policy necessitating the re-opening of the old main line to Pickering and Whitby as the principal means of access to the national park area,” it said.

Changes in national transport policy following the energy crisis may give greater long-term economic potential to the development of the railway than was originally envisaged, says the trust.

•TOO much fuss is being made about a problem which might be caused when the two Welburns become part of the new Ryedale district.

Quite rightly, both parishes, which are 12 miles apart, are resisting the move that there should be some other distinction by calling them either Welburn north or Welburn south, Greater Welburn or Little Welburn.

It is unlikely that the name of either will crop up so often in local government administration as to justify any change in the name. Quite simply, there are Welburn (Malton) and Welburn (Kirkbymoorside), which should be sufficient.

And is confusion likely to be caused through the Norton-Nawton names when these two places come within the new area? The spelling is different though the pronunciation is the same.

•A NEW library service for the housebound began in Pickering this week.

The scheme, piloted by Miss P Moyse, the town’s librarian, and Mrs B Heap, WRVS organiser, made a good start, with eight pairs of volunteers, mostly married couples, taking books out to housebound readers.

It is a fortnightly service, delivering and returning books within the town. Because of the petrol shortage, this service cannot at this time go beyond the town.

It is a good opportunity for married couples to help their community, working as a partnership

From the Malton Gazette & Herald, Friday, January 11, 1974