13/08/04

As far back as 1960 and 1961, a well known councillor of that time was told repeatedly and vehemently by my father-in-law and others, when taking their lunch break at Browns Sawmills, that a new bus station to replace the Leadyard terminus should incorporate at least two levels of car parking above it. We all know what was built, for the white elephant and eyesore still occupies Feethams.

When the Market Place was last renewed, one of the more enlightened councillors proposed that one or two levels of underground car parking be put under the site. The majority of councillors rejected the proposal, not because it would cost a lot, but because it would be difficult to get the market stalls in and out of the storage area under the Covered Market.

Eighteen years ago, I remember parking on lower level two under the market place in Dijon, France, which is a much older and more aesthetically pleasing city.

I'm sure that English construction companies can match their French counterparts even allowing for the "running sand" strata that exist in various part of Darlington.

It is certainly true that Darlingtonians alone cannot keep all the town's shops solvent.

For at least 70 years Darlington shops have depended on customers from up to ten miles out of town. As one of those out of town customers, supermarkets with their huge free car parks on the edge of town are marvellous. But town councillors do not seem able to understand why supermarkets are so popular and successful.

Under the short sighted car parking system that Darlington has operated for the last 30 years everyone loses.

Shopkeepers lose customers, the town treasury loses revenue from the shops that are obliged to close and customers go shopping in Northallerton, Teesside or Newcastle. - IT Wardle, Aldbrough St John.

TERRORISM

THE liberal left, never at its best in the backbone department, will always claim the hounding of "minority" terrorists, whatever their creed, to be against some form of individual human rights. The West, in their eyes, full of evil neo-conservatives, will never find a solution that is to their liking.

The argument of both ends of politics need to be put to one side, they are lost on those who wish to destroy our way of life. The wish of the Islamic extremist is to force sharia law upon all, and as they plan their campaign of terror, they don't discriminate between Britain's Muslims or Christians, we are all targets.

If we wish to cause harm to British Muslims, then the best we could offer is to do nothing, the preference of the loony left. We are lucky that our security services have so far stopped al Qaida's attempts to attack Britain.

Terrorists, even tyrants in clerical gowns, need finding, any method will suffice. - Jim Tague, Bishop Auckland Conservatives.

LAW AND ORDER

NORTHERNERS should judge Michael Howard on his record, not on the claims he made on policing in his recent Middlesbrough speech.

While Mr Howard claims he wants a greater police presence in our communities, his record as Home Secretary is one of closing down police stations at a rate of one a week.

Thousands of people now have no local police station and have to wait even longer for a police response when they need one. Labour is little better, having closed 227 police stations since 1997.

Michael Howard may talk tough now but when he had a chance to make a difference he used it to deprive hundreds of communities of a permanent police presence.

We need substance, not more soundbites if we are to make a real difference to crime in our communities. - Paul Leake, Shincliffe.

RETIREMENT

MAKING people work until they are 70 is certainly a ploy to solve the pension crisis (Echo, July 20).

People should have the choice whether or not to continue working after the present retirement age. Suggesting the old age pension be deferred another five years is clearly an attempt to avoid having to pay up.

It is the right of every citizen to enjoy a few years at least of happy retirement. Working right up to the limit of one's three score years and ten should not be forced on anyone. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

TONY BLAIR

I CAN remember every Prime Minister from Winston Churchill onwards and consider Tony Blair to be one of the hardest working of them all.

The Parliamentary session that has just ended has been described as one of the most busy there has ever been and the Prime Minister has played his full part in this.

In the recent Commons debate on Iraq Tony Blair was in confident combative mood, and the result was an unexpected hands down victory for the Prime Minister.

He achieved this success through his brilliant debating skills.

Because of its policy of investment the Government has achieved major success in the public services.

The economy too, is performing well under this administration.

Tony Blair should most certainly seek a third term in office and carry on good work already begun. - LD Wilson, Guisborough.

TOURISM

I WAS delighted to get a copy of Great Summer Days from One NorthEast recently.

This glossy publication listing all the region's tourist attractions was just what we needed to plan for the summer holidays. Well done, One NorthEast for helping the local tourist industry, I thought.

One of the places my family enjoys going in the summer is Killhope, the marvellous lead mining museum in Weardale. The kids always have a great time there and we weren't surprised when Killhope won a national award for being the most family friendly museum in the country.

So my delight in Great Summer Days turned to dismay when I couldn't find Killhope anywhere in this list of attractions promoted by One NorthEast.

Is this another example of a big regional organisation displaying complete ignorance of the great things we have here in County Durham? - M Bailey, Ireshopeburn.