I READ that John Cleese is selling up and moving abroad. Perhaps the one sketch which sticks firmly in my mind was his "ministry of funny walks", which is never to be forgotten.

The ministry sketch came to mind this weekend while driving west along the A63 between Cliffe and Hemingbrough. Traffic calming work is in progress, consisting mainly of new signs, one of which welcomes careful drivers.

Speeds along this stretch of road more often than not are well in excess of the 60mph limit.

There is no indication of drivers heeding the new signs.

I wondered if the Highways Agency had created yet another John Cleese sketch, that of the "Ministry of silly signs"?

David Rhodes,

The Shrubberies,

Cliffe,

near Selby.

...REGARDING the Tadcaster Road advertising signs, because there does not appear to be a city council officer capable of giving the definitive answer to this problem, I hope to shed some light on the matter.

The Highways Act states quite clearly that anyone, other than the Highway Authority, in this case City of York Council, or other statutory body, is committing an offence by placing anything in the highway. For the purposes of the Act, the highway includes the pavements, grass verges and the carriageway.

Why the York city officer who responded to this matter only clouds the issue, with the irrelevant arguments given which are beyond me. It is so typical of this authority in failing to grasp the nettle - they cannot please all the people all the time.

Hodge Johnson,

Lastingham Terrace,

York.

Updated: 11:02 Friday, June 29, 2001