POWER SUPPLIES: I CANNOT grumble too much about being without electricity all weekend, given the massive task facing the region's two electricity distributors.

I remain patient and keep a sense of perspective; as, looking at the problems in Carlisle and the horrors of South-East Asia, I realise mine is only a temporary inconvenience.

However, the distributors' communications have been less than switched-on.

An unspecific region-wide message was all we were offered, leaving us, quite literally, in the dark. Bad news for me would have been better than what I was offered - no news at all.

NEDL and YEDL are owned by multi-billion dollar American conglomerates. I find it hard to believe that they cannot afford a decent customer relationship management system.

They need to look again at how local communities are kept informed with relevant and specific information. - Dr Martin Lloyd Thomas, Kirkby Fleetham.

Weardale RAILWAY

IN reference to David Thompson's letter (HAS, Jan 10), I would like to remind him that local businesses are still owed large sums of money by the railway company.

It is sad that the administrators have been called in, but I can only hope that the creditors can be paid, otherwise there could be further job losses to the Dale.

It is obvious that the company has not been run in a professional manner, otherwise it would not be in administration.

It is a dangerous game to spend money you do not already have. As I have said previously, I will support the project provided that it can produce a sustainable business plan that shows that it can operate in the future without vast sums of public money.

A lot of people still need to be convinced that it can deliver the jobs, service and revenue that can benefit Weardale. Since the line re-opened there has been no sign that this has been achieved.

I also take exception to the comments from people outside Weardale, telling us what is good for us. My priority is the interests of the local community, of which the majority share my views on the railway. - Coun Richard Mews, Wear Valley District Council and Stanhope Parish Council.

LOCAL SHOWS

THE highlight for many Yorkshire residents is a day out at the local show. My family certainly enjoy a day showing their ponies and produce, shearing or tinkering with new farm machinery.

However, this tradition is now under threat. Proposals by Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary, have been laid out in a consultation paper. These would overhaul the licensing system and introduce charges of a minimum of £5,000 up to £50,000.

Taxes would apply to any public entertainment event attracting more than 6,000 people, which involves providing temporary accommodation and serving alcohol. Monies raised would go to the local council to cover the costs of health and safety checks.

Many local shows are dependent on volunteers and are struggling to make ends meet. Some small shows have already disappeared. big bills will hit other shows hard and it seems charges will be due from February 7.

The Dales Festival of Food has been a poplar May Bank Holiday attraction but a potential £20,000 tax bill could see it not taking place.

These shows and events are an important part of countryside life. We must not see them disappear. We need to fight such new taxes on living in rural areas. - Jacqueline Bell, PPC Liberal Democrats, Richmond.

DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

JOHN Young makes a number of wild assertions in criticising Durham County Council (HAS, Jan 6).

It is misleading to suggest that local people receive nothing for the council tax they pay. We have invested significantly in roads and schools, and are employing more teachers and social workers to improve the support we provide to children and vulnerable members of the community. Rather than cutting services, we have expanded what we provide, introducing kerbside recycling in many parts of the county and extending the opening hours of libraries so that even more people can access our services.

To suggest that we are "an anachronism of a bygone age", ignores the fact that the review of local government in the county recommended that a county council was one of the options for future councils in the event of an elected regional assembly. As the referendum turned out, a majority of people voted to retain the present system, including the county council. Interestingly, if things were to have changed, the majority favoured countywide local government over Mr Young's preference for a district council-based solution.

Mr Young may think that we are an outdated institution. I would argue that Durham County Council has proved its worth and will continue to do so. - Councillor Joe Armstrong, Chairman, Overview and Scrutiny, Durham County Council.

EUROPE

DAVE Pascoe's argument is based on a number of misconceptions, notably the presumption that Turkish Muslims entering Britain should be regarded with particular suspicion as possible terrorists (HAS, Jan 6).

Muslims in general should not be held accountable for the criminal acts of a tiny deviant minority among them, and the co-operation and good-will of Muslim countries will be absolutely essential if Islamist terrorism is to be defeated.

Passports are still required for travel within the EU, and European Muslims have been subject to a great deal of suspicion and hostility. There has been a tremendous increase in stops and searches of British Muslims, and Arabs and Muslims have been arrested on the flimsiest of evidence, with some still in prison without charge.

Many EU countries, including Britain, already have substantial Muslim populations, who, in theory, enjoy the freedom to travel throughout the EU - but not, as Mr Pascoe suggests, "without let or hindrance". - Pete Winstanley, Durham.

DAVE Pascoe is wrong (HAS, Jan 6). The UK is not in any danger of an influx of Turks if Turkey became a member of the EU.

We have not signed the Schengen Agreement of 1995, which allows free movement of the citizens of EU member states.

It is, anyway, unlikely that Turkey would be able to join the EU until, say, ten years from now.

There are so many improvements Turkey has to make in human rights, in particular, before its membership can be accepted. - (Dr) David J Whittaker, Richmond.

DAVE Pascoe (HAS, Jan 6) is missing the point completely. The fact is that the vast majority of Muslims, Turkish or otherwise, are ordinary people with no desire to hurt anyone.

To say that Muslim fundamentalists are representative of Turkey and the Turkish people we would be admitting to Europe is like saying that the Ku Klux Klan are representative of American Christians.

The Turkish government is working hard to improve its human rights record and make itself a useful part of our ever expanding Europe, so let's give them a chance.

We are living in a multi-cultural country (whether Mr Pascoe likes it or not), so it would make sense to extend and embrace this on a European level. - Pauline Cassim, Hartlepool.