30/04/05

First, we have the toll pole in the market place. Each time you pass it, it seems to be out of order or a warden is employed to collect the money.

Maybe they should have used it during the Iraq war to knock out enemy vehicles.

Secondly, we have the cathedral buses that ride around all day without passengers. Maybe they should get a few dummies to make them look busy and people would not notice through the dark windows that they're not real.

Thirdly, we have the Gala Theatre. The people of Durham were repeatedly told it would not cost them one penny, but we know different.

And now we come to what has a great chance of being number four - the new park and ride scheme. I am sure this will be the next thing for the people to prop up. Then the council will definitely be the winner of the White Elephant Trophy.

If this was done by a businessman it would be financial suicide. Lucky the council has the people to pick up the bill. - Peter Jefferies, Durham City.

CLASS ACT

ON behalf of myself and other classroom-teaching assistants, I felt I must write in response to the derogatory comments made by PG Elliott-West (HAS, Apr 23).

The majority of teaching assistants are more than competent to implement a teaching programme and are a very valuable asset to the class in which they are based.

Most know the children as well as the class teacher and play a vital role in raising the educational achievement. Two adults in the classroom work very closely together and assistants are a great support to the class teacher. They contribute to the day-to-day planning and the monitoring and assessment of each pupil.

Most are perfectly able to work on their own initiative and certainly do not need constant supervision .

Of course, the class teacher remains totally responsible for the class, but surely that is why they are paid so much more than a mere assistant. - Dorothy Hedley, Barnard Castle.

SUPPORT OUR PORT

ON your business page (Echo, Apr 27) the question asked: "Mr Blair, are you going to support our North-East ports?" It went on to describe how other North-East politicians would be approached to support the development of a deep sea container port on Teesside, a strategy which could see up to 7,000 new jobs created in the Tees Valley.

I appeared on the North-East Tonight Election Special and posed a question which related to the North/South Divide and support for development of the port project. The panelists, William Hague (Conservative), Alan Beith (LibDem) agreed that the gap was widening. Hilary Armstrong (Labour) was of the opposite opinion.

On the deep sea container port, William Hague said a definite 'Yes' in support. Interestingly, Hilary Armstrong said that Teesport had an excellent case and that the Government was examining the submission carefully. This is a positive start. I explained to the panel that we have the river frontage, the land and the infrastructure. We now need to forcibly lobby the next government.

The feeling is that the North/South Divide will always be in existence but bringing this immense programme to the Tees Valley can only be good for the North and the hundreds of small businesses it will help create and sustain. As a federation we will continue to lobby on behalf of small business. - Colin Stratton, North East Regional Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses.

WRONG IMPRESSION

RE the John North column (Echo, Apr 21). I was a bit disappointed at the title "A life of filth and friendship" in connection with the article on Claire McGregor's book about Haverton Hill, as this gives the wrong impression of the place.

It was pollution that caused the problems at Haverton Hill, rather than the people, which this heading might well convey.

Also, the photograph of the roof tops was not of Haverton Hill, but of Victoria Terrace, in Sweethills.

I should add that Claire's book was very good, it epitomised the spirit of the people of Haverton Hill. I was also born in Young Street, just before Claire, and went to school with her.

She typifies Havertonions of that era. - Dorothea Scarlett, nee Hatton, Billingham.

STEAMED UP

SO Darlington Borough Council wants to do more to attract tourists into the town and encourage them to stay.

The tourism review group's report calls Darlington "an historic market town" yet, despite public protests, the council is going to destroy the historic High Row steps and Victorian railings, which give an individuality to the town.

Once the pedestrianisation is done it will then look just like many other towns.

The report also says there is "a great deal to offer" - to my mind there's very little. The council closed the museum and art gallery and did nothing, as far as I'm aware, to try to get the extension to the National Railway Museum, which went to Shildon.

There's little at the North Road Railway Museum where you have to pay for the privilege of seeing it.

If the council wants to attract more tourists, one sure way would be for a steam train service, on weekends and bank holidays, linking the two railway museums.

Perhaps if they also lowered the rates for shop premises and market stalls it would help get some of the many empty units in the town occupied and refill the empty open market spaces which would help make the town more appealing. - T Hillman, Darlington.

NO DICTATORS

ALL hatchets are out for poor old Blair at this time. Opposition leaders are having a ball saying he lied and had all kinds of hidden agendas and ulterior motives for the Iraq crisis.

The truth is both Iraq and Afghanistan are now void of dictators and are quickly becoming self-sufficient. The new Iraqi army is facing up to insurgents alone.

Thousands of unknown dead are still being discovered in Iraq from the days of Saddam.

Back in England, inflation and interest rates are the lowest that I can remember and half that of under any Tory government.

Over the centuries England has been blessed with a leader who has had the courage to stand up against threat of any nature to our free society. Blair stands among these in my opinion. - Bernard McCormick, Darlington.

GREAT KNIGHT

IT WAS so pleasurable to see so many people out celebrating St George's Day. Hundreds of folk paraded themselves around the town centre bars in Darlington in their England shirts and it was very moving to view such patriotism.

Even in some pubs, the bar staff wore their English tops with pride and had St George's flags emblazoned at the fronts of their bars.

I would also like to thank Adrian Bell, who came out dressed as a knight, and kept everybody in cheer in Hogan's, with fine renditions of English folk songs on his acoustic guitar. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.