I AM writing with regard to your article on pesticide control and the campaigner Georgina Downs (Yorkshire Post, November 15). I was very
happy to read about her triumph and sincerely hope that the Government does actually follow it up and make a positive difference to the current situation.

It saddens me that Georgina Downs had to spend seven years collating evidence for her voice to be heard.

Is it not common sense that these cocktails of chemicals,
so popular in the farming world, are going to be detrimental to the health of humans if we come into direct contact with them?

Since they are plastered in warning signs on the packaging, need a licence to be used and require the handler to be covered from top to toe in protective equipment, it seems obvious to me they are going
to be a hazard to any unsuspecting bystander or countryside resident who gets a good "dowse" as the sprayer sails past them.

I agree wholeheartedly with Peter Melchett that the judgment should be implemented immediately but, sadly, I am sure the Government will manage to drag it out over several years before even making a token gesture. However, in case they were interested in a suggestion for improving this situation, here is mine.

Since farmers are already required to notify local beekeepers of imminent spraying, this can surely be easily extended to include all local residents whose property adjoins any farmland to be sprayed. It would not increase farmers' workloads dramatically. All that is required is a standard letter with times and dates altered as required and a list of the addresses of the properties in question. Royal Mail will do the rest, or these letters could be hand-delivered if only a handful of properties were involved.

I see this action as common courtesy and it saddens me that Georgina Downs has had to fight so hard for this issue to even be considered. It may
take 10 or 20 years for the effects of exposure to these chemicals to show in humans, but do we want another asbestos situation? Do we not learn anything from our previous ignorance?

Sadly, it's all about making money regardless of the effects it has on innocent bystanders. I am sure many farmers will fight this common sense, common courtesy issue.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is already insisting it is working within
EU regulations.

Unfortunately, I have seen how Defra "interprets" these regulations to suit its own ends on other issues. But this issue is so important because it is having a negative effect on people's lives now and every year it is allowed to continue unmonitored.

So, well done to Georgina Downs and a plea to the Government to make a difference for once and make a difference now.


Strictly a farce as John does decent thing

From: Jill Burns, Fir Close, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.

WHEN is the BBC going to find another system of voting on Strictly Come Dancing after this year's farce of John Sergeant being kept in the competition, when other excellent dancers were voted off (Yorkshire Post, November 17)?

Thankfully, he has now quit the programme, but he should have gone in the first week. It is supposed to be a dancing competition, with the best dancer winning.

I enjoy watching the dancing and the fabulous costumes, but could no longer watch the "dance off" when one perfectly good dancer had to go because some morons had voted for John Sergeant to stay.

I'm glad he has done the decent thing and resigned – surely he must realise he will never make a dancer.


Council in the dog house

From: Louise Hart, Birchfields Avenue, Skelton Woods, Leeds.

EVERYWHERE in Skelton
Woods in Leeds there are are signs telling us that if we do
not pick up our dog's waste
we will be fined, and yet the
bins at the edge of the
wood are full to overflowing
with dog waste bags all over
the ground.

I have spoken to the council before about this. The dog owners of Skelton Woods are responsible but it would seem the council is not.

Puddings
on a high

From: Lynne Ware,
Woodcot Avenue, Baildon, Shipley.

I know why the Englishman in the Rockies (Yorkshire Post, November 13) has flat Yorkshire puddings – he is too far above sea level.

Most American batter mixes have separate instructions for cooking at high altitude.

If he consults these, and adjusts accordingly, his puds should be back up to scratch in no time.

Unattractive proposal

From: Douglas Hartley, Irving Terrace, Clayton, Bradford.

IN the letter I wrote following Michael Hickling's report (Yorkshire Post Magazine, November 8) on the future of Bradford, I described the building which Bradford Centre Regeneration proposes should replace the Odeon cinema. My words were: "an unattractive, featureless steel and glass tower". Unfortunately, in the printed version (Yorkshire Post, November 14) "unattractive" has lost its prefix, reversing
my meaning.