High Street trees I READ with great sadness of the decision by Hambleton District Council to decide against planting trees in Northallerton High Street and use planters instead due to opposition from the Showman’s Guild. “Protest as tree plans changed for planters” (D&S Times, Feb 19). Northallerton High Street like many other high streets around the country will have to evolve from mainly retail to a blend of retail, hospitality and residential if it is to survive. The addition of an attractive public space in the centre of the town would be a key part in this, encouraging visitors to the town which would in turn reap its own financial benefit for businesses on the High Street as well as providing an attractive multipurpose venue to host outdoor events such as music, live theatre or a host of other community events.
Missing education DURING the current Covid crisis, concern has been raised over the effect of the precautions on children’s education. Those of us of a certain age may recall the situation in the early 1940s when teachers were in the Forces and rural schools, in particular, were deluged with evacuees. Temporary accommodation and interrupted/part time education affected children across the land. But, we survived and prepared a generation of children who grew up to successfully guide us all through an era of cultural and technical development the likes of which we had not seen before. So, if school closure will help with controlling the Covid virus or any other crisis, what is there to worry about?