ENVIRONMENT: IN striving to protect the countryside, we need to recognise that what is crucial to it above all else is a healthy, flourishing wildlife and plant-life.

As for appearances, they can take care of themselves. True, they are liable to change, but as long as the underlying ecology is undamaged, change is acceptable.

I am referring here to the ongoing debate about wind farms. To many, they seem an alien intrusion in the landscape but, as far as I can judge, they do no harm whatsoever and, indeed, have a certain exotic beauty all of their own.

Certainly those across the top of Hedleyhope Fell, just outside Tow Law, have become something of a tourist attraction, popular with visitors and locals alike. Walking underneath them is a bizarre and even awesome experience.

As far as I am concerned, anything that generates clean electricity bodes well for the future and is on that account to be wholeheartedly welcomed. - Tony Kelly, Crook.

ONCE again, we are faced with council plans for the destruction of what is left of the precious countryside around Spennymoor.

It is all too obvious that the present scheme for 100 houses is only the thin end of a wedge leading to the grotesque target of 800. This will wipe out any pretence of a green belt for our still pleasant, and mercifully small town.

With traffic problems, congestion and pollution, it is vitally important we keep some of our shrinking countryside for recreational use, to say nothing of the constant need for agricultural land.

Councils are not always right! Remember it was the local council who once thought it a good idea to build the Bessemer Park Estate, and only a few short years later were forced to tear it down. Building on top of ancient, and probably, flooded mine workings may lead to the same unhappy conclusion, but then it will be too late.

Spennymoor may have many needs but this overpowering mass of bricks and concrete is, assuredly not one of them. I urge the council once more to think again. - Alan Scott, Spennymoor.

CONGRATULATIONS to all who took part in the blitz on the environmental problems in Hartlepool in Operation Clean Sweep (Echo, Dec 9).

It goes to show what is generally known anyway: that when determined people work together, great things happen.

I know it has been said before, but it is worth repeating; petty offenders, who are usually the ones who cause the problems in areas such as Burbank, should be put into "forced labour gangs" to do similar clean sweeps of any and all places needing attention. Making anti-social yobs work hard to improve the places they have vandalised may have better and more lasting results than trying to exclude them. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

FIESTA CLUB

I WAS interested to read Mike Amos's article on the Fiesta Club in Stockton (John North, Dec 11).

I had some enjoyable times at the Fiesta in the 1960s. People said that the club was so popular, it was packed every night. It was one of the best cabaret venues in the country and attracted top-line artists.

Dusty Springfield loved playing there. I remember at the time meeting a girl at a local dance and we finished the night with a visit to the Fiesta. She had not been there before and was suitably impressed. - LD Wilson, Guisborough.

REPRESENTATION

SHORTLY before I went on an extended holiday, Ludovic Kennedy was in trouble for commenting on the number of black faces on TV.

It didn't matter that it might have been his opinion or whether there was truth in it or not, but he had rocked the boat.

I can sympathise with him as in my view the number of white Englishmen as reporters or presenters on radio and TV are becoming more and more uncommon.

It is time we got back to common sense and sanity in the country. All the organisation or rules, be it equality, racial or sexual, civil liberties or rights, only work one way.

We have a Minister for Women, why not a Minister for Men?

How often have we heard statements from the Association of Black Social Workers, Black Solicitors, Black Police Officers etc. There is no reason why these organisations should not exist, but can you imagine the furore if someone wanted to set up an Association of White something or other.

A letter (HAS, Dec 8) made me think the Government had put a block on Christian cards with a religious theme being put up in work places as they might upset people.

What is Christmas but a Christian festival so why should we not celebrate it?

We are told we have to respect other nations and religions, so why should not they respect us and ours. Whatever happened to the old maxim... When in Rome?

As I said, it is time we got back to sanity, otherwise in conjunction with Tony Blair's ideas and actions, there will soon be no Britain, never mind a Great Britain. - Derek Smith, Durham.

PLANE CRASH

I was interested to read (HAS, Dec 8) about research into the German plane crash which took place on Eston Hills on Sunday, March 30, 1941.

I was nine years old at the time and attended Normanby Primary School and still remember the plane coming down following a 'dog fight' with two Spitfires.

One German airman bailed out and landed in a tree where he hung suspended by his parachute unable to get down although, as far as I know, he was not injured.

Feelings were high in the village at the time following bombing both in South Bank and Middlesbrough and crowds quickly gathered, having run up Flatts Lane to the scene.

A lady who lived nearby defended the trapped man and kept the crowd at bay until officials arrived to cut him down.

Certainly, no one locally heard of any other survivors from the plane although, sadly, body parts were found near the wreckage. - Olwen Ann Parker, Billingham.

PENSIONS

I AM not a politician, but the new pension top-up scheme is said to give more money to poorer pensions.

It is controversial because some older people don't like answering questions about their finances.

On balance perhaps, pensioners should claim all they can get because if they don't it will only be spent on something less deserving. Furthermore, I don't suppose any government will even think about introducing another scheme for some years.

So the battle for better pensions will be long term and politicians of all parties are saying that the real value of state pensions will shrink.

We are a society which in all age groups has poor, comfortable and rich people. Equality would seem to be a dirty word. Or an unrealistic one. - Max Nottingham, Lincoln.