15/07/04

The banners waving strongly in the gusty wind resembled the turbulent years of the miners often in combat with their employers and the coal they mined for, often in the most difficult and despairing conditions.

I remember well the situation 20 years ago: the Durham Miners' Gala in 1984 marked a tragic piece of social and economic history. It was also a great political challenge. There were guts and determination and a great sense of survival. But also there was division created by a government hell-bent on crushing the miners and seeking to reduce their families to poverty and indignity. They failed, and the fact that the Gala exists today is a living memory.

Six new banners breezed through the narrow Durham streets. I was there to support the new banner from my village, Coxhoe. It demonstrated the richness and tapestry that all banners have but it contained something of the present and inspiration for the future. With images of present-day miners' leaders, the inscription on the banner reads: "The past we inherit, the future we forge".

There was much to lament, as the brass bands blended with Cathedral organ and a spirit emerged, celebrating freedom and a reminder that democracy must never be taken for granted. - Bernie Walsh, Coxhoe.

DAY CENTRES

I WRITE in response to the letter from Mr Routledge (HAS, June 28) about the recent inspection of Learning Disability Services in Durham by the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

I understand his concerns about the future of large day centres, in particular the Durham centre, and following extensive correspondence with him on this matter I have arranged to meet him and discuss the issues further. I would emphasise that no decision has been taken regarding the Durham centre and no decision will be taken until after full consultation and involvement with service users and carers in the development of alternatives to actually improve the opportunities for service users.

The whole essence of the Government initiative Valuing People is to include people with a learning disability as far as possible in normal activities and services available to everyone else. In areas like mainstream education, employment, and leisure, it means moving as far away as possible from segregating people in large day centres as almost the first option. There may well be a need to retain some specialist facilities and existing day centres do provide some excellent facilities in this regard. We must, however, move away from a "one size fits all" approach and develop the best opportunities for each individual.

The CSCI Inspection of Learning Disability Services in Durham resulted in a very positive report. The overall conclusion was that we are serving most people well with excellent prospects of improvement.

Durham County Council has a long history of providing good services for people with a learning disability and is committed to improving services and opportunities in line with the Valuing People agenda. This will need to be done with the full involvement of service users and carers and I can give an assurance to Mr Routledge and everyone else involved that we will take their views fully into account. - Councillor Mrs Christine Smith, cabinet member for Strong, Healthy and Safe Communities, Durham County Council.

FATHERS 4 JUSTICE

I AM not a member of Fathers 4 Justice, but I support these chaps fighting for their children's right to see them, and for their right to see their children.

I am strongly in favour of following the democratic process and legal procedures. But the point here is that the democratic process made laws but the courts are not enforcing them. And the democratic remedy has been tried for 30 years with no success.

Peaceful protests have been ignored. How many of your readers know about the men who have been on hunger strike to see their children? How many have met the men who have been mentally broken, some going on to commit suicide?

I joined the men's civil right movement when I came across a local council that did not let fathers (or uncles, or brothers) go into public libraries with their children during 'women-only' sessions. I was told it was a 'trivial' matter to complain about, but sexual apartheid in public libraries is against the law, yet they get away with it.

Since then I have learned there is other substantial discrimination against men, and denying them access to their children is one of the most disgraceful.

The Suffragettes are now presented to us as heroines. Yet they fire-bombed churches. Throwing flour at politicians is pretty mild stuff compared to that. - William Coulson, Newcastle.

REGIONAL GOVERNMENT

NORTH-EAST Says No has a similarity between the majority of its supporters.

They are all white, middle-class men, many of retirement age, with the exception of one female, who works for the campaign leader.

Surely we would want to see a broader coalition of people, including ethnic minorities, women and young people, opposing the assembly. It is not very surprising that people in their later years are opposed to change.

The elected assembly would be for the future, requiring the input of young people. - S White, Bishop Auckland.

EUROPE

I HAVE read with interest the details of the Government's spending plans for the next few years. More money to be spent on NHS, education, defence, transport and housing.

What I cannot find is the amount of extra money that will be spent on the UK's continued membership of the EU.

I am told the Government pays £20bn of taxpayers' money each year and this amount is rising.

For some reason, the details are not transparent. Is this because, despite the fact that we conditionally get some of our contributions back, we get no benefit for the balance? - Chris Williamson, chairman Durham branch, UK Independence Party.