IN response to Councillor Andrew’s letter “Protest Camp is in residents’ interest”. I wish to state that there is absolutely no need for the existence of Kirby Misperton Protection Camp.

Those at the camp are radical activists who see shale gas as an opportunity to further their radicalism. If it wasn’t shale gas they would choose some other fashionable cause to protest.

They come from all parts of the country and abroad. Daily we see evidence of their appalling antics, surfing on lorries, lock-ons, pop-ups, building towers, blocking roads and the constant closure of Habton Road.

The protesters are certainly not welcomed by a majority of Ryedale residents who do not need or want outside help.

Any genuinely local “peaceful” protesters could easily action a campaign in their homes or village halls. Ryedale folk managed before squatters came and will manage when they have gone. Local folk can take care of their own affairs without the assistance of others.

As to the camp site, owned by Flamingo Land, I don’t believe the owners are giving tacit approval of them. The owners had at least two attempts to remove them, but prevented by a Section six notice (allows people to take over unoccupied property with a severe threat of penalties if forcible removal is used).

Court processes to remove them would be a long, tedious and expensive business. Flamingo Land has existed for decades, they can wait.

David Pasley, Pickering

Time for protection

HAVING had a very close call with a pushbike being ridden quite erratically on the pavement by a lad probably between the ages of 12 and 15 years, and it not being the first time this had happened to me, on getting home I decided to call the police to find out just what the laws are regarding pushbikes on pavements.

I was shocked to find that it is quite acceptable in certain cases, for example children under the age of 10 are allowed to be accompanied by an adult, anyone with a disability is also allowed as it could be unsafe for them on the road, and anyone with a mental condition as they could be afraid of the traffic.

About three months ago, hearing noises behind me, I turned to see three, yes three pushbikes coming up behind me.

On passing a comment, all I got were unrepeatable verbals. It’s got to be something when some people are deemed unsafe on the road, yet the laws don’t seem to protect us, the pedestrian, on the one place we feel it should be safe for us, the pavement, and leaving us to look out for ourselves.

J Hunter, Pickering

Collar campaign

WITH reference to the “Collars off for Rocco” campaign (Gazette, October 18), may I suggest that collars are removed wherever a dog is unsupervised.

A friend of mine found her dog dead at the end of a car journey. His collar had caught on the dog guard. Thank you Karen for highlighting this problem. I am talking about it to all my “doggy” friends.

Susan Stokes, Coneysthorpe

Democracy counts

DAVID Hoggard in his letter (October 11) questions whether there is, in fact, a substantial number of local people against fracking in this area.

In our village of Swinton (about six miles from Third Energy’s site), we sent out a questionnaire earlier this year to all the households to update the local village plan.

About 63 per cent responded, and of those about 92 per cent said they were against fracking in the parish. That would appear to be quite conclusive. In terms of local democratic representation, I admit the staunchly conservative North Yorkshire County Council voted in favour of fracking in Kirby Misperton, but it is interesting that Lancashire voted against in their area yet this decision was overruled by the government. It is not surprising if people feel that local democracy counts for very little.

Glyn Wild, Swinton

Memorial service

ARMISTICE Sunday, Garrowby Hill, 2017.

I begin this letter with the sad news that may not have reached some of you. In March I lost my darling husband Alun. He had a stroke and then got pneumonia and died peacefully on March 7.

We had an amazing service of thanksgiving for him with more than 600 people attending. This memorial service at Garrowby was very special to him and I will continue to take it as long as I can.

The service will take place beside our memorial in the lay-by alongside Cot Nab Farm on Garrowby Hill on Sunday, November 12. We aim to start at 10.45am prompt.

If you wish me, during the service, to mention the name(s) of people dear to you who lost their lives in wartime, please let me know.

I hope you can come.

Julie Emlyn-Jones, Cardiff