THE idea that Yorkshire is a self-contained region with an individual identity may be a useful fiction for county cricket matches but beyond that the concept has no relevance for modern Britain, and I speak as someone born and bred in York.

If regional assemblies ever come into being they need to be firmly grounded in the realities of today, not quaint notions about regional identity based in the past.

The people of South Yorkshire would be far more likely to find solutions to their problems and promote their area, by allying themselves with North Nottinghamshire and North Derbyshire than they ever would by being lumped with North Yorkshire to satisfy some outmoded idea of 'the Broadacres'.

South Yorkshire and the North Midlands are geographically contiguous, they share the same road and rail networks, have similar political and demographic profiles, and are both experiencing the ongoing problems brought about by the collapse of the mining industry. None of those factors is shared with North Yorkshire.

Those who believe extra levels of government represent an extension of democracy need to acknowledge that this is only true if the extra tier is widely supported and voters will turn out in large numbers in subsequent elections.

As the abysmal turnout for Euro elections illustrates, unless people really feel a layer of government means something they can relate to then all that is achieved is one more level of bureaucracy and even more politicians.

If those campaigning for extra tiers of representation have their way we will be expected to tramp to the polling stations to vote for a local councillor, Westminster MP, regional assembly representative, upper chamber representative, Euro MP and head of the EU.

Voters would become even more disillusioned with politics and it would lead to even lower turnouts.

Stephen Dalby,

Irwin Avenue,

Heworth,

York.

Updated: 12:33 Thursday, June 28, 2001