THE school holidays are upon us and it is time there was a sensible opening of footpaths in Craven. The tourist industry has suffered long enough and needs a few scraps to survive through the winter.

So many miles of farmland are bereft of animals that there is no point in preventing people from using footpaths. Yet a blanket ban still exists in these parts.

It is time to have a little common sense and flexibility, particularly as, so we are told, it is the movement of farm vehicles which has caused the spread of foot and mouth in these parts rather than the tramping of feet.

There are a number of paths which could reasonably be opened with a little discussion and agreement all round.