OVERSTEADS HOUSE: AS an independent observer, I must say that I consider the approach being adopted by the Liberal Democrat-controlled Durham City Council towards the residents of Oversteads House, Ushaw Moor, deplorable (Echo, Dec 11).

To put people at this stage of their lives in such a position over the future of their homes is not what councillors are elected to do.

The services for which the city council is responsible belong to the people, and it is the job of councillors to deliver them how, when and where the people want them.

It seems to me the city council has every intention of eventually closing Oversteads.

By refusing new tenancies and allowing the number of existing tenants to decrease, they will hope to reach a position where those who remain will not wish to stay in a virtually empty building and request to be rehoused.

If this is not the case, then how can the council afford to turn away income by leaving good accommodation unoccupied?

Can Councillor Les Thomson, who holds the housing portfolio on the council, categorically state that there are no people around who would not welcome the opportunity to live in Oversteads House? Is there not a waiting list? - John Routledge, Witton Gilbert, Durham.

FESTIVE COSTS

IN reply to Mrs LA Catterson's letter (HAS, Page 4, Dec 9), City of Durham council did not pay £20,000 for Coronation Street celebrities to switch on the Christmas lights. The fee was paid by the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre and was a lot less.

This rumour, fuelled by the Labour Party, comes from mischievous press articles. It is sad that people haven't got better things to do with their time in what is supposedly the season of goodwill.

The council gave the money towards the cost of running the winter festival as there was a shortfall in funding and, without its intervention, it could have been cancelled. The festival was a huge success, thousands of families enjoyed the weekend and it gave the retailers a great boost just before Christmas.

With regard to pantomimes in village halls, we have a limited budget for this purpose. As production costs rise and we receive more requests for financial assistance, we have to try to be fair to all organisations. - Fraser Reynolds, Leader, Durham City Council.