You write

The suggestion of a relief road through Aykley Heads is a nonsense and would create more congestion not relief to traffic.

The original suggestion of a bypass to the north of the Arnison Centre avoids the built up areas of Framwellgate Moor and the use of these roads by the emergency services of police, ambulance and fire brigade, who all have their premises in or nearby to Aykley Heads.

M Atkinson

Framwellgate Moor

Is it worth it?

THE fair left seven weeks ago, but re-instatement of the green is still awaited.

The ten-day 'event' had only two fine days - Good Friday, March 25, and Saturday, April 2, - but only Good Friday brought appreciable crowds.

Damage to the turf, caused by lorries and other vehicles, is severe and extends beyond the Sands' riverside seats.

Although normal litter was collected, carpets, wooden chocks, oily rags and cobbles were left.

Twelve traction grates were left in the muddy turf and a council mower was stopped (and damaged?) by a bent steel rod.

About ten years ago, a popular Victorian seat was demolished by the wheel of a fairground lorry, which had tilted on soft turf turning to leave the Sands.

A replacement seat is still awaited. It seems the takings from the fair continue to be insufficient for wages and consequential damage.

M D Chadwick

Durham City

Pity about the plan

TOO true, the comments of H G Hensen (Advertiser, week ending May 21).

I attended the meeting held at Framwellgate Comprehensive School by the developers and the council to encourage the residents of the area not to object to the proposed Arnison/Rosemount complex.

The biggest carrot promised was a link road from the A1M to the Pity Me roundabout.

The part the developers needed was built as a priority, which was the stretch from the Pity Me roundabout to the three-mile road where the blind exit, intended to continue to the motorway, is still a blind exit.

There have been none of the facilities we were promised.

I can assure you that at any future time I will agitate to have a contract or at least something in writing before any meeting closes.

R Drion

Newton Hall

Time to protest

I WAS saddened to learn of the intended closure of all Co-op Handybanks later this month, which will be greatly missed by its regular customers, who will now have to join queues at post offices!

The nearest Co-op banks at Durham and Chester-le-Street are inconvenient for pensioners and other people on low income, having to pay for bus journeys.

Several years ago, I led a protest against a similar closure of handybanks and received widespread support at the North East Co-op annual meeting in Newcastle, resulting in the reopening of the closed banks.

I would therefore urge Co-op shareholders, who share my concern, to lodge objections with their local area committees, and the forthcoming annual meeting of the North-East Co-op.

May I take this opportunity to thank the staff of these 'no longer handy' banks for their service and friendly assistance given to local Co-op members using their banking services, including my local branch in Annfield Plain.

This local banking service will be sorely missed, as will the friendly staff, now made redundant to join the dole queues!

Kenneth Osborne-Grant

Annfield Plain

Not so affordable

WOW, 'affordable housing' for the County Durham villages, at last!

The Durham Villages Regeneration Scheme is just wonderful.

I wonder how many first-time buyers or hardworking families wanting to buy their first 'new' home within their own villages would agree with me?

Prices of new home plots can increase from one week to the next and potential buyers are not given a price until a week before plots are released, and then, the price has increased!

Greed..not need, will they be the bywords for the future? I hope not!

Rita Charlton

Durham.