26/02/05

And then I turn to Page 4 (Echo, Feb 19) with Andy Lamb's picture of a beaming face of a student as he is holding a pair of early born lambs. What a wonderfully uplifting photo - the joy on Tom Louden's face.

Thank you, Northern Echo, for a touch of light to brighten the day. - Brent Dodd, Barton.

ROYAL WEDDING

JOYCE Rutter (HAS, Feb 17) thinks that we all should take our chances of happiness. Agreed, but not at the expense of others.

It is becoming clear the public was conned into believing that the wedding of Charles and Diana was a "love match". Even then, the sinister figure of Camilla was skulking in the shadows. Why did the Church of England not refuse to conduct that marriage as Charles had not terminated a previous partnership?

We need more openness about this. Deceiving the public is scandalous and hurtful.

Does anybody, given the behavioural patterns of Charles and Camilla, believe that the forthcoming marriage will be happy ever after? I wonder what odds the bookies are quoting for another acrimonious divorce within a year or two. - E Turnbull, Gosforth.

I FAIL to see the connection between the marriage and the right of Charles to ascend the throne.

If one is acceptable so must the other, especially as the church B Coote refers to (HAS, Feb 16) was founded on divorce and multiple murder.

The Christian belief is that Christ died to save all of us, sinners included. As He said when He stopped the stoning of the woman found in adultery: "He who is without sin should case the first stone". The public and the media have done their worst. May one hope that The Northern Echo will now look to the positive side of this marriage and let Charles and Camilla enjoy their day without any snide remarks or 'look back' photographs. They are not perfect, but who is? - BA McClusker, Upper Weardale.

HUNTING

I HAVE never followed a hunt but disagree wholeheartedly with the "ban" so I attended last weekend's meeting of the Zetland Hunt to express my support. I was in awe of the numbers of people, and the strength of their passion.

It is evident that no more foxes will survive because of the ban. A lot more face death by being shot - and a shotgun will not discriminate between a healthy fox or an older, weaker fox.

I feel that by attending the meet I saw things first hand, and would advise E Gendle (HAS, Feb 19) to do the same. - Patrick Blewitt, Darlington.

THE Hunting Act 2004 has nothing to do with animal welfare and everything to do with political prejudice, as last weekend showed.

Police officers are being diverted from frontline policing activities and refocused on ensuring rural people are culling foxes within the law. The British people don't want this legislation, rural communities are opposed to it, and more importantly, the police don't want it. To use the words of the head of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), this legislation "fills many of his fellow officers with dread". The ACPO guidelines indicate that this legislation is a low priority for police forces.

Anti-hunting organisations have reported alleged incidents to the police, but so far, these have been proved to be nothing more than malicious accusations. Self-proclaimed "hunt monitors" are wasting valuable and already overstretched police resources.

Anti-hunting organisations and hunt saboteurs should now stop their attacks on the hunting community, understand that hunts intend to act within the law until this ridiculous and badly-drafted legislation is overturned, and stop causing unnecessary trouble in rural areas. - Richard Dodd, Countryside Alliance Regional Director.

DARLINGTON TRAFFIC

WHEN William Shakespeare wrote "I wasted time, and now doth time waste me" he could have been sat on an early morning bus slowly inching along North Road, Darlington. He certainly wouldn't have been able to then observe that "though this be madness, yet there is method in it" with regard to the traffic management system for the town. Can the accountable authorities please use some imagination to resolve what has become literally a daily pain in the rear? - Donald Simpson, Newton Aycliffe.

PENSIONERS' TAX

SO Michael Howard is going to let pensioners pay only half of their council tax. As a pensioner, I ought to welcome such a move, but then how do I face my neighbours who say: "We pay more to subsidise you."

What is needed is a system that is based on ability to pay. After all, if I win the Lottery I will still be a pensioner and entitled to a 50 per cent reduction.

Mr Howard's bait will not net all pensioners but Labour can hardly expect to keep the grey vote with its record-breaking rises in council tax over the last eight years. Why not just abolish council tax and have a local income tax? - DC Elsom, Annfield Plain.

EDUCATION

EASTBOURNE School in Darlington has not been able to reopen since the half term break.

The education authority has made plans to fine parents if they keep children off school with no valid reason and parents will no longer be able to take children out of school to allow for holidays within cheaper price bands.

Perhaps the authority could think of ways to educate children at alternative venues when damage causes a school to close. Children's education is being put on hold because of this damage and, as a concerned parent, I feel that bringing up this matter is justified. - Sarah Snelling, Darlington.

DARLINGTON FC

I AM hugely disappointed by the crowds at Darlington FC this season. David Hodgson and the Sterling Consortium have done wonders since they took charge. Promotion is a possibility and with players like Craig Hignett, Clyde Wijnhard and Curtis Fleming, the crowds should be well up on the usual 4,000 plus.

Some fans said they would not attend home games because George Reynolds was in charge last season, but this is no longer a valid excuse.

I call on the people of Darlington to come out and support the team. If we get out of League Two, I am sure that David Hodgson and the current owners can take the club to new heights. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.

HOMOSEXUALITY

PETER Mullen (Echo, Feb 22) says that homosexual promiscuity is not equivalent to Christian marriage; but surely heterosexual promiscuity isn't equivalent to marriage either. The announcement of a gay engagement in The Times was a declaration of love, loyalty and commitment - what on earth is wrong with that?

As for the efforts of some gays and lesbians to stand up publicly for their rights - which Mr Mullen absurdly describes as "the wholesale advertisment of licentiousness and depravity" - such political activism will become entirely redundant as soon as there is an end to prejudice and hostility against gay people. - Pete Winstanley, Durham.