19/03/05

The new emergency psychiatric team told me that I should come into the new hospital at West Park in Darlington. The staff were not over zealous in their approach to my state of mind, and this was the first time I had felt like a human being - I have had some bad experiences with admissions.

The staff put me at ease and I have nothing but praise for the hard and sometimes difficult job they do. I see them as people with faces, not some regime that is out to get you.

I would like to say don't be put off by the stigma of mental health. These people with faces will nurse you back to full health. - A patient, West Park Hospital, Darlington.

THERE are many reports condemning our National Health Service, therefore may I express with gratitude my own recent experience?

I was discharged from the University Hospital of North Durham, having received treatment for an inguinal hernia. Everyone from the first examination to final discharge was helpful, friendly and professional. The standards of care, hygiene and pleasant environment were exemplary and could not have been bettered had gone I private. - Colin G Farquhar, Durham.

THOSE people in charge of the business side of the South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, and the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, should relinquish their positions now as they have built up a £25m deficit. We, the taxpayers, must know where this money has gone. - CM Johnson, Bedale.

BUDGET

YOUR "Budget Highlights" (Echo, Mar 17) states: "Every pensioner household will receive a council tax refund of £200."

This is not true because women pensioner householders like myself who pay council tax and are aged between 60 and 65 are not included. So much for treating women fairly. I will not be voting for a party which makes such a basic error, either accidentally or deliberately. - Susan Reed, Darlington.

PENSIONERS should be made aware of the Tories. I remember a Tory minister telling the elderly to go to bed and wrap up to avoid the cold. The miserly £10 cold allowance was given after it was below freezing. They will certainly take the cold weather allowance away if elected. When have the Tories ever looked after the elderly? - Gordon Hodgson, Bishop Auckland.

COUNCIL ELECTIONS

IT IS more than 20 years since I was inspired by the true spirit of Teesside and of Billingham in particular.

It was a cold, dank Sunday morning when thousands of families, including grandparents and children, marched around ICI in silent protest against plans to dump nuclear waste under the town. As action co-ordinator for the local campaign group BAND, I took full responsibility with the police for the march in November 1983. It was a defining moment in my life.

I believe that the people of Billingham are looking for a better deal from their politicians. They deserve one. Billingham has great potential for business development.

We are a patient, law-abiding town born of ICI discipline, whose time for fairness has finally arrived. We will change the faces of some of our politicians in May and then we will show how quickly frustration can turn to optimism. Step by step we will succeed. - Fred Jones, Prospective Independent Candidate, Billingham.

IT IS interesting to note that in 1999 Labour held 38 seats on Stockton Council. There were no Independent councillors and Labour had a majority of 21.

At the moment Labour has only 28 seats and a majority of one. There are eight Independents.

The times they are a-changing. - J Young, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough.

THE comments of Rita Taylor, secretary of Sedgefield constituency Labour Party (Echo, Jan 22) suggested that the writing was on the wall for our political careers.

According to her, we will lose our seats because we have lost the confidence of the local party and local people.

While Mrs Taylor's comments about support within the local branch may be true, it is no secret that our stance in last year's referendum put us at odds with certain factions within our branch.

It is wrong, presumptuous and arrogant to suggest that the views of a few officials are reflected more widely within the party and the local community.

Since Mrs Taylor started making her pronouncements about our demise, we have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from local Labour Party members and local people.

They know how hard we work to represent the local community.

It is the views of these people who will decide our political futures. - County Councillors WM Blenkinsopp and Terry Hogan, Durham County Council.

PARKING

ON Thursday, I went to see the Darlington Primary Schools swimming gala at the Dolphin Centre.

It was so exciting to see so many children and parents enjoying themselves (and well done to Abbey Junior).

The night was only spoiled by three wardens "doing their job" . I, and 20 or so other parents, received parking tickets.

I had parked in the taxis area after 6pm. As everyone knows, the section near tourist information is not used by taxis and therefore normal traffic parks there seven days per week. However, it is only on peak occasions, when parking is difficult, that the traffic policing department decides to increase its revenue.

Surely some common sense could prevail, like an announcement in the Dolphin Centre or a word of warning. The parents that park here are not criminals. I am very disappointed and disillusioned with these tactics. - Richard Hookway, Darlington.

NORTH-EAST ASSEMBLY

THE North-East Assembly is to lobby the Government for £52m to upgrade the A66 around Darlington (Echo, Mar 15). I wonder which assembly this is referring to? Because the referendum about a North-East Assembly which I took part in produced a resounding "No".

This must be New Labour's "totalitarian" democracy where what Labour wants is right for the people as the people don't understand how democracy works. The people should be pleased that New Labour can put the outcome of the North-East Assembly vote right for them. - Peter Dolan, Newton Aycliffe.

VC WINNER

WHAT a brave soldier Private Johnson Beharry is (Echo, Mar 18). He is the first soldier to receive the Victoria Cross for bravery in two decades.

With racism high on the agenda of most Army hearings, I was so pleased to read that a black British soldier has received such an honour.

To have a courageous soldier like Private Beharry in the British forces is an honour, and I hope more like him come through the ranks, and continue to show that we have the best trained servicemen in the world. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.