At the commencement of a new year, one should always look back and remember the things that may or may not warrant an award; a kind of New Year's accreditation.

There has to be both good and bad issues to peruse. Let's save the good to last and take a look at those things which, in many people's eyes, were less welcome in 2009.

A gold award must go to Selby District Council for its persistence in creating something that was never thought necessary and, in the end, has turned Selby into a town of humps and bumps, less user-friendly and definitely more dangerous to both pedestrians and motorists. Yes, the regeneration of the Market Place and associated roadworks in Gowthorpe.

Combine this with the fact SDC, unlike other district councils, didn't see its way to offering free car parking on the run-up to Christmas.
The silver award has to be shared.

Arriva for withdrawing early morning and late evening (weekday) buses from route number four, Cliffe to Hemingbrough service. Just what Arriva management was thinking when it took the decision to cease offering workers transport to/from Selby is beyond comprehension. Weeks after the event, residents who live along the route of the number four service still don't have any concrete evidence of alternative service providers' bus times.

The other half of the silver award has to go to the supermarkets, who are keen to get the buying public through the front door but totally fail to clear snow and ice from car parks and footpaths.

The bronze award goes to traders in Selby.

It now seems mandatory W H Smith's creates long queues at its tills. I wonder if this is some sort of perverse statistical data gathering to see which branch performs least well?

It's not alone in the receipt of this award; there are those shops that on New Year's Eve decided to close early; 3pm in one instance.
They cannot legitimately complain about losing trade if they don't provide a half-decent service.

At last the good news, but sadly now no medals left to award.
Every week we have the Selby Times, which keeps us abreast of local news and developments. We have Ken Holmes, who entertains us with letters, often short but to the point. And, finally, we have an ever-improving rail service, which in this day and age is a real blessing.

David Rhodes
The Shrubberies, Cliffe