Sir, – I refer to Coun Linda Curran’s letter (D&S, Mar 20), regarding the development of the new route joining Catterick Garrison and Richmond. She says the scheme prompted her to think about the plight of families in Bellerby who, for many years, have been asking for a footpath to link the village to Leyburn so their children could walk to school safely.

She expressed a hope that the people who have funded the new link for Catterick Garrison and Richmond, where there already is a footpath, will now turn their attention to Bellerby.

She also mentions lack of pedestrian access from Scotton to Catterick Garrison.

I must point out to her that the suburb of Cravengate in Richmond has never ever had a footpath. She does not mention the plight of the residents of Cravengate and adjoining areas, plus visitors who include Coast to Coast walkers.

I have been putting a case to the authorities for the laying of a footpath on the east side of Cravengate for more than three years. Other residents have also made their views known to the authorities. I have met with a tremendous amount of prevarication.

At the time of writing, the authority is busy laying a footpath from the two cottages at Scots Dyke to join the existing path in Darlington Road. There is already a footpath on the opposite side of the road, this path goes from Richmond to Skeeby.

Coun Curran should take note.

It seems to me that we in Cravengate are being discriminated against. We pay council tax and we are denied a vital resource which all other taxpayers have as a rightful amenity.

W A G WARD Cravengate Nurseries, Richmond.