19/03/04

The number of disabled parking bays provided is in accordance with the planning requirements set down by Chester-le-Street District Council.

Nevertheless, we do accept that from time to time four disabled parking bays may well prove to be insufficient and arrangements have been put in place with our car parking operators to allow disabled badge holders to park in the normal pay and display car park, and on the production of their disabled drivers' badge a token for the car parking barrier will be issued free of charge.

I hope this is helpful. - Kevin Oxley, Director of Estates and Facilities, County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

METRIC MARTYR

IN noting the sudden, tragic death of Steve Thoburn, we mark the passing of a reluctant hero. Steve sought no public attention, but when he was dragged into court to face criminal charges an entire nation watched in disbelief, whilst an affront to justice was enacted.

Steve was a greengrocer who plied his trade at Southwick Market in Sunderland, his crime was to sell a customer a pound of bananas. The Europhile tendency of Labour controlled Sunderland Council decided that his heinous violation of non-democratically imposed European law could not go unpunished.

The might of the state was duly unleashed. Steve was found guilty and we were chillingly told by Judge Bruce Davidson, that "European law now overrides democratically constituted British law, and the 1985 Weights and Measures Act was now of no consequence".

Well, despite several levels of appeal the conviction was upheld, and an honest man now had a criminal record for trading in our established, and well-understood imperial measures. The term, "Metric Martyr" was applied, often sarcastically by a largely cynical press and media, but the nation saw a fighter against an injustice.

Steve, you will not be forgotten. The malevolent institution that brought about the unjust stain on your character, namely the EU, will not be forgiven. Rest assured that many people, in many different ways will continue the struggle to eventually free our country from the obscenity that they represent. - Dave Pascoe, Press Secretary, Hartlepool Branch, UK Independence Party.

REGIONAL GOVERNMENT

DW Lacey (HAS, Mar 16) urges us "to have the courage to put our trust in local politicians" by voting in favour of their much desired regional assembly.

I would therefore ask voters: are you happy with the way those same politicians and their officials govern us now? Would you trust them with even greater powers than they enjoy now? Do you think they deserve the huge increases in their perks and salaries that a regional assembly would mean? Would you be happy with the inordinate waste, expense and confusion that the change-over from the present set-up would inevitably mean?

If not, you may agree with me that DW Lacey is talking nonsense and that his letter exemplifies the poor case for a "yes" vote. - T Kelly, Crook.

TERRORISM

THE question "What should be done to end terrorism?" was posed (HAS, Mar 12) with the expectation of an answer being suggested by readers.

The answer can only be supplied by the terrorists, but unfortunately for the rest of the human race they are so diverse and their causes so different it allows them to stop and start their campaigns of violence according to the terms and conditions, which they negotiate with different governments against whom they have a grievance.

For 25 years we watched the troubles in Northern Ireland then breathed a sigh of relief when two supporters of terrorism were given two important positions in government while a third supporter will have a fresh bunch of daffodils placed on his grave on Easter Sunday.

Each in their own way brought an end to their respective admiration for terrorism. But did their actions deter or motivate others to emulate them?

We live in a world where every day we are encouraged in various ways to create idols who then become heroes. They are found in every strata of human endeavour, so we should not be surprised when terrorism too begins to promote itself as a defender of the oppressed operating under the maxim of equal retaliation for any imposed wrongdoing.

When the terrorists placed their bombs on the trains in Madrid they knew that if they were caught they would not be executed because the death penalty has been abolished in the European Union, which is the first victory for them.

While bringing death and injury to innocent victims they have cheated death, which is the ultimate deterrent. A long custodial sentence will only allow the terrorists to exploit their situation, which will encourage others to engage in atrocities to further their cause.

If we really want to find a solution to terrorism then we have to prevent the terrorists from terrorising again and this means applying the death penalty for acts of terrorism. - Thomas Conlon, Spennymoor

NORTH-SOUTH DIVIDE

IT was interesting to read (Echo, Mar 12) how Alan Milburn, in defending the Government's stance over top up fees, appears to have stated that this Government had signalled its acceptance that Britain's manufacturing industry was finished, with its introduction of the minimum wage.

He argued Labour's case for the fees, saying Britain could no longer hope to compete with China and Taiwan in the manufacturing stakes with the introduction of the minimum wage.

Could this also be why the Government has apparently decided to concentrate all its efforts in regard to growth in the south east corner of Britain?

We have witnessed the refusal to change Lord Barnett's formula, one that he himself has disowned, the decision to increase the number of global gateways only in the south (Stansted and Heathrow) and the failure to invest fully in this region's infrastructure (road, rail, air and sea).

It is nice to see a politician speaking out, although I doubt that Alan would expect or want his words to be interpreted in quite this way.

We are already in a position where employers have a surplus of degree level applicants to choose from and who now find themselves having to apply for jobs which were previously aimed at people with lower levels of academic achievement. As this continues down the job chain the people at the bottom are finding the gulf between themselves and the rest of society growing ever larger.

Having a country laden with degree level workers will not reduce the ever-widening trade gap with the rest of the world. It will not prevent the ever-widening gap in this country between haves and have nots and it will not prevent the leeching of jobs from this country.

We need a leadership that is not afraid to acknowledge the real problems that are with us; one that is both willing and able to look beyond the short term fix; leadership that can think outside the box and is willing to reinvent the wheel, for the sake of all our futures. - David F Preston, Darlington.