Readers’ Letters is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. 

This letter comes after travellers set up encampments in Harrogate and Knaresborough over the last two weeks. They have since left, but it caused some upset among residents.

Don't worry about the travellers. They should only stay a couple of days as Appleby Horse Fair started this week, and they are obviously on their way to it.

Perhaps it might have been prudent of the council to have placed some large boulders there to have prevented such an occurrence.

Maybe this could be something to consider for the future.

Colin Harrison, Knaresborough

Network Rail needs to ‘wake up’ and improve the local level crossings

This letter is in response to claims of uneven surfaces at level crossings on Starbeck High Street and Forest Lane.

Road surfaces are in a shocking state everywhere – but the level crossings on Starbeck High Street and Forest Lane never seem to be mentioned.

There is no warning of what could be a bumpy ride over these (un)level crossings. To try to save my car's suspension and tyres from damage, I slow down virtually to a standstill, engage first gear and cross at little more than 0 mph.

I have been behind buses that bounced up and down alarmingly. For all I know, passengers on board – especially those who are vulnerable – may have suffered unwelcome consequences.

They seem to only be getting worse.

My understanding is that they are Network Rail's responsibility. Network Rail needs to wake up and do something about it.

There is a health and safety issue here and Network Rail could be leaving itself wide open to claims against it.

Stella Barclay, Knaresborough

‘I shall remain a Stray Ferret reader after the subscription is introduced’

This letter came from a reader based in Munich, Germany. He wrote in about the Stray Ferret’s new-look website and app, which we launched week, and gave some kind feedback.

It took me a day or two to get used to the new appearance of The Stray Ferret, but I have to say you did an awesome job here.

I like the layout in general for both the mobile and desktop versions.

I especially appreciate that you don't get hammered by the ads – like on most other websites on this planet – when ads rather aggressively are pushing their way into foreground the very moment you start reading an article.

This restrained way of advertising gets a long way with the Stray Ferret’s quality journalism.

Maybe I should mention that I am not living in the Harrogate area, but in Munich, Germany. But since I've been to Yorkshire, and especially to Harrogate quite a number of times, I love to read and hear about the things that are going on there.

That his how I became a regular reader of the Stray Ferret, and I shall remain one after the introduction of the pay wall in July.

Simply because the Stray Ferret does such good work.

Benedict Hess, Munich

The mayoral salaries could be funding more doctors and nurses

This letter comes after the Stray Ferret published the new mayor and deputy mayor’s salaries. The deputy mayor, Jo Coles, will receive £68,670, while Labour mayor David Skaith is to be paid £81,300 per year.

I read with astonishment the amounts the mayor and deputy mayor of North Yorkshire will earn.

Nearly £150,000 between them – but would anyone actually miss these positions if they were abolished?

That money could be funding more doctors and nurses. What is of greater benefit to the public – healthcare workers or the mayoral roles?

David Spenley, Burn Bridge

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.