INDEPENDENTS' DAY

THURSDAY, May 3, was Independents' Day in Derwentside, and I write to respond to points in your report (Echo, May 5).

Firstly, it was stated that Derwentside Independents had won 22 seats. In fact, they won 23, while Labour lost 11.

Secondly, when North Durham MP Kevan Jones attributed this to the council being out of touch with the electorate, he should realise his constant sniping at his Consett comrades did not help.

Thirdly, Councillor Alex Watson was quoted as saying that Iraq was picked up in the Independents' leaflets. I can find no mention of it in any election literature.

Although the Labour vote held firm in most Durham districts, in Derwentside it faced a small group of dedicated people who have developed a brand of community councillor trusted to put residents' needs before party instructions.

Sadly, Derwentside Independents were not able to give people in the Stanley wards the opportunity to vote for them this time (six Labour councillors being returned unopposed), but in Havannah, where they stood for the first time in many years, they captured two of the three seats available.

A good day for democracy in Derwentside in general and, hopefully, a first step in the right direction for the Stanley wards. - Bill Stockdale, Leadgate, Consett.