27/07/04

Wishes, the charity card shop of Cancer Research UK, is wonderful. The shop looks great, the staff are helpful and friendly and the cards are amazing. I spent about half an hour just browsing and ended up buying four cards that I had never seen in any other shop.

Well done, Cancer Research UK for taking on the large chains at their own game. I wish you every success. - A Kennedy, Spennymoor.

WOODHOUSE CLOSE

HOW encouraging to read of a group of people helping to tidy up pensioners' gardens on Woodhouse Close Estate, Bishop Auckland (Echo, July 22).

So often you read of negative things on the estate. This is a very positive sign that, hopefully, perceptions are changing.

I know the Auckland Youth and Community Centre, formerly the Boys' Club, is striving to do some very good work and, with the expertise of the workers, this will get better.

It is a sad reflection on the local council that no budget has been made to provide some upkeep. This voluntary group can only do so much. - Peter Hall, Bishop Auckland.

I WISH to thank Nigel Hogg and the team from Auckland Youth and Community Centre for their excellent work. I asked one of the youngsters why they were doing this and the reply was: "We have to look after the old people."

It's a pity that councillors of Wear Valley who abandoned their disabled and elderly tenants in their cost-cutting strategy didn't think the same way. It is interesting that, while cutting costs, they voted themselves an increase of £40 per week. Some strategy. - Norman Button, Bishop Auckland.

AMERICA

UNLIKE Joyce Rutter (HAS, July 20) I refrain from personal attacks.

My wife and I lived for several years in America. Indeed, she was an American citizen when we were married and she became a honorary Scot. On numerous occasions I have said, courtesy of these columns, that I found the average American likeable and well-informed.

I do not like George Bush and his right-wing administration. Millions of people all over the world share my view. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

MOTORING COSTS

A RECENT ITV programme stated that motorists provide £37.1bn per annum. Only £7.1bn of this is spent on the roads. What has happened to the £30bn?

There shouldn't be any question of private funding or toll charges or congestion charges. Motorists have already paid for the roads. Isn't it time we had a balance sheet to explain this deficit? - T C Musgrave, Crook.

WALK

I WOULD like to thank all my sponsors for supporting me in the Traidcraft Great North Walk. Together we raised over £450 for Bishop Auckland Butterwick Hospice. I would also like to thank the organisers and particularly the Rt Rev Tom Wright for the use of his wonderful chapel and grounds.

This was my 16th walk for charity since I was 60 years old (for those still arguing about my age, I will be 74 this year). - Ethel Dobson, Bishop Auckland.

ASYLUM SEEKERS

THE 16 asylum seekers who were arrested at the Harmondsworth Centre near Heathrow Airport, should be deported immediately (Echo, July 21).

These thugs have no right to be in the United Kingdom. It is no wonder that violent crime is spiralling as the current left-wing Government allows in thousands of asylum seekers.

We have to hope that another party gains power next year and sends all of these foreign hoodlums back to where they came. - C Wardell, Darlington.

CEMETERY SEATS

MY neighbours and friends in the North Road area of Darlington would like to point out that we are very annoyed that the Liberal Democrats (HAS, July 17) are trying to take the credit away from Labour Councillor Bill Holmes, whom we approached about the lack of seats in the cemetery. He took up this campaign and at long last new seats were installed. All credit must go to Councillor Holmes. - Donna Greaves, Darlington.

PETER MULLEN

I ALWAYS enjoy Peter Mullen's column, especially last week's when he described exactly what militant Islam does (Echo, July 20).

Freedom of speech is at a premium. The Home Secretary keeps coming out with daft laws whereby we shall not be able to think freely. It gets more like George Orwell's 1984.

What is surprising about Peter Mullen is that he is a cleric in the Church of England. This church is very politically correct. I wish there were more Peter Mullens. They are a dwindling race. - Jim Ross, Rowlands Gill, Tyne and Wear.

Sedgefield ADVICE

AT Sedgefield Borough Council we are extremely proud of the work carried out by our Citizens' Panel, which is made up of an independent group of volunteers (HAS, July 19).

The information supplied by the panel is invaluable and we seek its assistance an average of eight times a year.

We did consult the panel six months ago concerning the Local Government Review and those findings quite clearly supported a three unitary system for County Durham rather the current one unitary system.

We now believe that we should update our findings just as we would with a housing or finance issue.

I see nothing wrong in being precise with our facts and figures as we have always viewed ourselves as a family council with a hands-on approach. - Councillor Malcolm Iveson, Sedgefield Borough Council.

GLASS CENTRE

WE have just visited the Sunderland Glass Centre for the first time. We had asked Matt Jopling to make a 1930s glass shade for a calor gas light.

Matt met us at the door and took us to his workshop and was so helpful it was a pleasure to deal with him. He altered a lampshade we already had by cutting it there and then to tide us over. That was service for you.

The glass centre itself was a pleasure to be in, the food was excellent in the restaurant and the waitresses a delight. - DV Sinton, Alnmouth, Northumberland.

FOOTBALL

I AM most perturbed that Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren is going down the route of signing players who are over 30 and have their best footballing years behind them. Three out of the four signed already are over 30 and together with three existing first teamers will give his first team an average age of over 30. Not the best way to build a team that will be together for a few years!

Mr McClaren should note what his mentor, Sir Alex Ferguson, has done over the years. His teams have been built on bringing through young players and signing young players.

Whatever one thinks about Sir Alex, no one can dispute his success. - WD McInnes, Bishop Auckland.