MRS Varley seems keen to deflect accusations that Newton residents are complaining about circuit noise by implying that it is the Noise Liaison Group who are complaining (Letters, December 29).

In fact the group and its parish members, Alne, Aldwark, Youlton, Flawith and Thorpe Underwood (Little Ouseburn), are content to carry their share of noise from visual circuits, which equals the load Newton now carries.

So far as I know, all the complaints to Hambleton came from Newton and Linton residents. We have never objected to carrying our fair share. Rather the opposite - the goal of our campaign during the last nine years has been just that: a return to fair spread.

The date of formation of the group (1996) related to the 1995 change of direction for visual flying circuits from RAF Linton rather than the time I came to live in Aldwark, which was earlier.

Until 1995 visual circuits had been shared among all the villages surrounding the base. This had been the case since flying training started from Linton in 1957.

However, in 1995, when the circuits flying was re-directed over the north, west and south-west of the base, Newton and Linton were exempted. The maths is simple: if they didn't take their share, we had to take it - as well as our own.

The RAF Commanding Officer, Group Captain Harrison, has put it on public record that all circuits flown are equally safe and that the RAF itself has no preferences.

We support the fine work done by the RAF and are happy to carry our fair share of circuit flying. All we ask is that Newton and Linton carry their fair share too. It really is not complicated.

Clare Brooks.

Aldwark, York.

Updated: 10:46 Tuesday, January 11, 2005