02/07/05

At present, we have one of the finest cricket teams here, namely the Australians, and there will be millions who have not had the pleasure of watching them yet.

Why? Because they don't have Sky TV. Cricket lovers are being deprived. We have the BBC and commercial TV stations but have any of them made any attempt or applied to Sky to screen one of those one-day games?

It is always the same reason: money. It is wrong for all cricket lovers to be treated unfairly by those in charge, including the cricket authorities.

This country stands together in wars, tragedies and all help in good causes, but in a case like this the outlook changes. If you can't afford to have Sky TV that's hard lines. - M Harker, Seaham.

HOUSING AUTHORITIES

RE your article (Echo, June 22): why should competent councils in Northern England subsidise incompetent housing authorities in London and the south east?

The Metropolitan housing authority must think it does not matter if it mishandles its finances and doesn't do its work thoroughly, as it knows it will get compensated by the more efficient housing authorities in the North.

Meanwhile, the competent housing authorities like the ones in the North-East must be rewarded for doing their job well by being allowed to keep the profits they make to improve the council housing in their area.

If this practice was put into operation it would make the inefficient housing authorities work harder and the competent housing authorities would be rewarded for their efforts by allowing them to become more prosperous, therefore being able to build more council and housing association properties than they already do. - Margaret A Greenhalgh, Darlington.

TOWN CENTRE

MY recent letter criticising the direction in which Darlington Borough Council seems to be taking our town centre has produced a number of supportive replies on your letters page.

Independent retailers and those who cherish the traditions of our market town need to be aware of the threats that face us - not just to the physical environment of the High Row, but the future of the town centre as a unique shopping experience.

The council says we must attract the big high street chain stores to compete with other centres. But Darlington will never be big enough to compete with the MetroCentre, Newcastle or York. We risk throwing out what is good - our Victorian heritage and excellent independent shops and market - in a vain quest to attract shoppers by becoming a clone of every other town in the region.

But a far bigger threat lies in wait - Tesco. Tesco is targeting market towns across the country, and later this year will produce its plans for a huge new store at Feethams. The impact of such a store on our Covered Market and the independent traders in the town could be devastating. Will there be a full and open consultation? Not if recent experience is anything to go by.

A strong, unique and varied town centre should be the life of a market town like ours. We cannot wait while superstores, developers - and politicians looking for a memorial - play games with our traditions.

Improve High Row, don't destroy it; improve the Covered Market; develop the Yards; listen to what retailers and residents are telling you.

The time has come for independent retailers to join together before it's too late. We need to speak with one loud, clear voice. Anyone who agrees with me can contact me at The Health Warehouse, so that we can discuss the best way forward. - Mike Barker, The Health Warehouse, Post House Wynd.

LABOUR OF LOVE

I THINK pensioner Lena Morrison should be allowed to work until the age of 70 ( Echo, June 30).

The 68-year-old dinner nanny from Chilton has given 28 years of service and knows the job.

Why should she be made to leave when she is perfectly capable and enjoys this work? - Thelma Sayer, Darlington.

VIETNAM ADVENTURE

WHY not slip into some tight lycra, hop on your bicycle and join UK learning disability charity Mencap on its first ever bike ride through Vietnam and Cambodia from February 10-20, 2006?

Your challenge will take you through two of South Asia's most fascinating countries which have only recently opened their doors to foreign travellers. Starting in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and finishing at Angkor Wat in Cambodia, you'll experience breathtaking scenery, timeless traditions, ancient temples and the warmth of the local people.

To join this wonderful adventure and help people with a learning disability in the process, you will need to raise a minimum sponsorship. For further information, including tips on fundraising, please call (0845) 977 7779 or visit www.mencap.org.uk/events. - Laurence Llewelyn Bowen, Mencap.

KENNETH CLARKE

THE Tory party is surely too wised up to Kenneth Clarke and his extreme pro-Europe stance to consider him as a possible party leader (Echo, June 20).

If he makes a last desperate bid to lift his fading career and to gain power, let us hope he gets little or no support.

The Liberal Democrat leader and the Prime Minister are out and out pro-Europeans. The country needs one of the large political parties with a leader who will take a different stance.

There are far more anti-EU than pro-EU people in this nation and it is high time their views were seriously given voice in Parliament. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

TOLERANT COUNTRY

OF course, Mat Stasiak (HAS, June 21) is right. Whatever anyone's religion, they should be entitled to it. This country is surely one of the most tolerant.

We have Jewish synagogues, Islamic mosques, Christian churches, Salvation Army, etc.

Imagine a country larger in size than the whole of Europe where not one single Christian church is allowed. If you arrive by air, the customs will seize any Bible or hymn book. That is the Islamic country of Saudi Arabia. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

COLLEGE BUDGETS

The general election is over, so now for the bad news.

The budget at Darlington College of Technology is reduced by £600,000 (Echo, May 27) resulting in 40 job losses and the loss of thousands of student places.

The Learning Skills Council say that, nationally, its budget is being increased by £170m for the next academic year, but none of this appears to be coming to the North-East.

Next, we learn that, last year, our councils were shortchanged by £17.4m (Echo, June 20) through the area cost adjustment which surprise, surprise, benefits councils in the south.

Next, we learn that Darlington Borough Council housing tenants subsidise council house tenants in the south to the tune of £4 per week per property (Echo, June 22). Some London boroughs get as much as £44 per week per property.

Once again we are being taken for granted by our local Labour MPs. So, come on Alan Milburn, fight for your constituency - Brian Fiske, vice chairman, Darlington Liberal Democrats.

School Closure Debate

Schools debate: HERE'S a few facts and opinions for consideration on the merger.

1. The council is not listening to rural Darlington or the parents of urban Darlington who chose Hurworth's environment for their children.

2. The council cite falling roles as one reason for merging, yet Hurworth is always oversubscribed.

3. Hurworth was built as a rural communities' school in 1961 when the population of Hurworth was much smaller than its present 4,000 residents but was considered necessary then, why not now?

4. Tony Blair praised the wonderful environment for a school only last summer, yet the council pre e council pre fer an industrial site.

5. The Governors, along with Mr Farrar have instigated policies which have worked well at Hurworth. These same strategies could be implemented in other schools, without the need to close Hurworth.

6. Last year Hurworth School achieved 79 per cent of pupils passing five GCSEs A* - C thanks to the efforts of staff, pupils and supportive parents, elevating them into the top 40 performing schools in the country. Eastbourne teachers have strived tirelessly to raise their results up to 33 per cent and it is wrong to blame them for Eastbourne's difficulties

7. The council cite the poor quality of buildings at both schools as one criteria for change, yet Hurworth has housed 600+ pupils for many years.

8. We are told a £21m school will be built and must house 1,200 pupils but we are not told who made that decision. - Name and address supplied

I AM fighting to save Hurworth School and I was concerned to read that some parents from Darlington felt that the Hurworth objectors were showing them a lack of respect.

I used to live in Eastbourne, my brother and Godparents of my children live in the Eastbourne area and I have nothing against the people in Eastbourne, quite the contrary. It wouldn't matter if the LEA was trying to merge us with Carmel, Hummersknott, or any other school, I moved back to the village because I specifically wanted my children to go to a village school, close to my friends and family.

We are fighting to save Hurworth School as we do not want to lose the rural location and the heart of our community. By closing Hurworth school, the choice will be taken away from all of us.

No school belongs on the back of an industrial estate, A road which is already congested with HGVs, trucks and commuters.

There has to be safety issues, if you then try to transport another 1200 pupils.

Also, how many schools have battled to stop phone masts going up near their schools? The new school would be near to Orange's phone mast.

I feel Eastbourne Headmistress and teachers are being used as a scapegoat. This proposal is all about money and statistics not what is right for our children. - Name and address supplied