Sir, – North Yorkshire, a once proud and independent county, is now dead. Twenty years ago, it had its own roadbuilders, who built and designed the roads, bridge-builders, stonemasons, bricklayers, carpenters, welders, blacksmiths, and street-lighting engineers.

The equipment to carry out these tasks, fitters and mechanics to repair and maintain the equipment, was at a central depot.

The area of North Yorkshire was divided into area depots with the experts to maintain their given area, who took pride and accepted responsibility in their work.

Today all this has gone and been taken over by financiers who said they would save money (that’s a laugh). It now costs more than three times the amount to run the county.

With no-one accepting responsibility for their actions, who accepts the responsibility for £25m lost in banks. They then want Cherie Blair to get it back for us. What is wrong with our own legal department – we pay them enough, or are they another waste of money?

It’s time for a change. Accept responsibility, or get out.

J B MORRIS Beechwood Close, Bedale.