MUCH has been made of pedestrians crossing the A64 at Crambeck.

However, I believe there is a much more serious issue that involves school children from Norton College, who live at Whitwell and are being dropped off after school on the westbound side, near the Howsham turn-off.

More than once have I seen them scarper in front of my car as I have travelled over the brow of the hill eastbound.

Around 3.45pm each day, I am conscious of this possibility and drive as carefully as this fast road allows.

Surely the school bus can go right into Whitwell and thus remove the risk of a child being struck by a vehicle at this location?

This is a tragedy waiting to happen, yet the solution is simple so come on Norton College staff and parents and address this.

Edward Monaghan, Swinton

Platform priority

WITH all the hoohah about the regeneration of the north by HS2, perhaps the Government should put more investment into the existing rail infrastructure first.

The poorly performing TransPennine route immediately springs to mind.

It is a continuing scandal that the only coast-to-coast rail service in the region, connecting such important cities as York, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool, should be given such low priority, especially in view of the proposal to move the House of Lords to York.

Admittedly, a number of new train units are supposed to be in the pipeline, although I don’t think any have entered service yet.

However, this does not go far enough. I can’t see how the service can be made more punctual and frequent with Malton reduced to one platform.

Trains from each direction have to be channelled into one platform track, severely reducing line capacity.

As Malton is Ryedale’s only still extant railhead, the relatively low cost of the restoration of the second platform should be a priority.

I rest my case.

Richard Hayball, Pickering

A cynical ploy?

THE 2015 Infrastructure Act re-defined fracking according to the volume of fluid used to fracture the shale.

As this new definition excluded more than 40 per cent of gas wells fracked in the US, (the source of many of the worries adduced by Frack Free Ryedale (FFR) and others in objecting to the process), this was considered a cynical ploy to achieve fracking via the back door.

When the Government announced its moratorium in November, FFR was one of the first to note that the value of the moratorium depended utterly upon the definition of fracking used.

Our suspicions concerning the Government’s intentions were confirmed recently (January 28) in the House when Kwasi Karteng announced: (The moratorium) “defines high-volume hydraulic fracturing as involving the injection into a well of 1,000m3 or more of water per fracturing stage or 10,000m3 or more of water during the entire fracturing process. Activities outside of this definition are not included in the moratorium.”

Not only is fracking as originally understood, using smaller quantities of fluid, still permitted, but also acidisation and other forms of fossil fuel extraction, as well as exploration.

More then than a cynical ploy to achieve fracking, a cynical ploy to achieve re-election.

David Cragg-James, Stonegrave

Do research on 5G

AS the government continues with its plans to roll out 5G across our country, many questions remain over its safety regarding potential health effects on humans, particularly children and the environment.

As you are reading this, there is the Emergency International Appeal to Stop 5G on Earth and in space with nearly 200,000 signatories from 204 countries from doctors, scientists, environmentalists and concerned citizens.

It has been sent to the UN, WHO (World Health Organisation), EU, Council of Europe and governments of all nations.

The appeal asks urgently for a halt to the deployment of 5G (fifth generation) wireless network, including 5G from space satellites.

We already have 2G, 3G and 4G networks in place, 5G will massively increase our involuntary exposure to radio frequency (RF) on top of these.

I urge readers to do your own research into 5G, and if you would like further information about the appeal mentioned above please use the following link 5gspaceappeal.org/the-appeal

Anne Nightingale, Helmsley