I AM rendered (almost) speechless to read the letter "Dicing with disease" (Letters, June 7), calling for footpaths in York to remain closed due to the threat from foot and mouth disease.

In my opinion there never was any need to close any of the footpaths in York. The nearest outbreak was 50 miles away and there has never been any proof that walkers have ever been involved in the spread of the disease. In its guidance to local authorities on public access to the countryside, MAFF states that, outside directly infected areas, "it is extremely unlikely that walkers will come into contact with viable FMD virus and the risk of transmission from one farm in the area to another is vanishingly small".

A cynic might consider that the agricultural industry has been remarkably effective in instituting and transmitting the disease itself without any help from passing ramblers. It also seems extremely strange to consider keeping York paths closed at a time when the high fells of Lakeland are being reopened.

The other point I would make concerns the reference made to "this devastating disease". Foot and mouth disease seems not in itself to be anything other than rather painful to the worst affected animals. It is not harmful to humans, even if they eat meat from the infected stock, and most of the animals would recover if properly treated.

The devastation is really caused by the medieval methods used by MAFF to eradicate foot and mouth, all this slaughter and suffering because, horror of horrors, this disease lowers farming yields.

AS Wilson,

Hunters Way, Dringhouses, York.

...I QUITE agree with what Mr Yarker says about reopening footpaths. If a path passes close to a field where there are farm animals, then it should not be opened. I think the Ministry of Agriculture doesn't have a clue when it comes to this sort of thing.

Look what happened near Settle, footpaths were opened prematurely and now they are in the thick of the disease. Heartbreak for a lot of farmers and the restrictions are back in force, but even more harshly. I have dogs which, since the foot and mouth outbreak began, have been restricted to the garden.

It is not fair on them but I would hate to think I had spread the disease anywhere. They have had walks outside but are kept on leads and away from any farm land. Surely walkers could do the same for a while. Must everything just be opened up for them without any thought for the poor farmers and their animals. It is the farmers livelihoods that are being lost.

Please think before reopening any paths, even in uninfected areas. People come from infected areas to walk. I think North Yorkshire County Council is right to be cautious.

Sue Hope,

Bellwood Avenue,

Clifford, Wetherby.

Updated: 12:23 Tuesday, June 12, 2001