WHILE North Yorkshire County Council is taking a very cautious approach to opening footpaths (June 2), City of York Council has taken the opposite view and opened all footpaths and rights of way.

I consider this to be a very dangerous move.

Only a few days ago, the Government told farmers to remain vigilant and continue to keep disinfecting procedures in place.

I work as a delivery driver in the Selby area. I have to dip my footwear several times a day in disinfectant.

The footpaths are still closed and these are essential measures.

But in York we are inviting people to walk through fields of grazing animals without any form of disinfection whatsoever.

There is a footpath 200 yards away from my house which goes into a field of sheep as you leave the road and there are no disinfectant precautions in place. This is inviting the disease into our area.

North Yorkshire now has more than 60 cases of foot and mouth. New cases are getting closer to York.

We must remain vigilant in this area and help to get this devastating disease under control.

But City of York Council is doing the direct opposite. If there is an outbreak of foot and mouth in this area, the economy of York will be hit even harder than during the floods or rail problems.

For the sake of York, the decision to open all the footpaths must be changed.

Open the footpaths that are away from livestock, but the others must remain closed.

John Yarker,

Ivy Cottage,

Hessay,

York.

Updated: 10:27 Thursday, June 07, 2001