Sir, – Just a year ago we were told in Richmondshire that shared services were needed with Hambleton District Council in order to save money.

Now the two councils have split, the leader of Richmondshire District Council, Coun John Blackie, announces that by being independent Richmondshire will now save £128,000. It appears to me that our leader is playing a guessing game.

The state of the council is desperate. As part of the shared services exercise, we lost the economic development team.

So what plan has the council got now for economic growth?

Where are the jobs going to come from to provide the people to fill a huge number of new homes to be built across the district over the coming years?

Where is the council’s tourism plan? Where is the council’s plan for its market towns?

The bottom line is that they do not have one, it is only down to members of Hambleton District Council that Leyburn was put on the map with the bid for the Portas monies.

Richmondshire has just had to open its first-ever food kitchen.

I would ask who is going to deliver the vital programmes for the future of the district, or are we just going to limp along?

ANDY BROOK Business owner, Leyburn