HEALTH SERVICE: THE old saying 'lightning never strikes twice' is being severely tested in the case of current events at Hartlepool General Hospital.

There is now a very distinct chance that this vital service is to be withdrawn from the people of Hartlepool and the hospital is to be closed.

The glib reassurances that, with the transfer of all services to other hospitals in the North Tees area and hence much further afield, that this could be somehow beneficial, is insulting and only serves to compound the planned felony.

Prior to the announcement of these plans, a poll of around 13,000 Hartlepool and district residents soundly rejected any plans to transfer services, specially cancer treatment. A small clique in the administrative hierarchy of the NHS trust has outrageously ignored these views.

If these plans go ahead I predict that all hell will break loose. The people of Hartlepool are not mugs and, believe me, they will wreak their revenge on the politicians who have brought this disaster upon them.

Could I appeal to the opposition parties in Hartlepool to tackle this betrayal head on?

It would be very interesting to establish how many Labour councillors in Hartlepool are supportive of these closure plans; will they just meekly accept the consequences of the actions of the inept Government they support?

More interesting is the absence of comment from Hartlepool's globe-trotting MP, interesting, but not surprising. - Syd Lavelle, Hartlepool.

SPACE TRAVEL

AS you highlight in your Comment (Echo, Aug 27) space exploration projects are very expensive and extremely dangerous - in the case of the NASA Columbia debacle, especially so.

We surely all have a curiosity to explore, discover and add to human knowledge. However, we also have a responsibility to set priorities in the use of world wealth and resources.

Can any nation (or EU group) however egotistic, justify spending mega-money on space programmes of dubious benefit when thousands of people are dying every day for lack of basic necessities.

At a time when millions face tomorrow without safe drinking water, food, sanitation and health care, can we not stop this astronomical waste? - Keith McAllister, Heighington.

WATER BILL

ON September 8, Parliament will vote on the fluoridation amendment to the Water Bill which, if passed, will compel all water authorities to add fluoride to our drinking water when ordered to do so by 'health' authorities.

They will do this under the pretence of trying to reduce tooth decay despite there being still no scientific proof that fluoride benefits teeth at all. Quite the reverse: fluoride causes unsightly staining of the teeth - dental fluorosis - plus other more harmful side effects.

All other European countries have now either banned or abandoned fluoridation of water supplies as ineffective and unsafe. Switzerland was the last to abandon fluoridation in April this year after 41 years of failing to reduce tooth decay and an alarming rise in side effects.

I urge everyone to resist this undemocratic imposition of compulsory mass medication, a violation of our human rights, by contacting their MPs urgently to vote against fluoridation in the Water Bill on September 8. - Alan Hall, National Pure Water Association, Darlington.

ROAD SAFETY

IT is well known that the road through Leasingthorne and Kirk Merrington is used as a short cut for drivers from the A689 to reach Spennymoor.

Earlier this year, a petition of more than 300 signatures was presented to the council in support of the road from North Close to Spennymoor, where there was a fatality in July 2002, being reduced to 40mph, but this was refused by Durham County Council.

Residents in this area feel very strongly about the speed which inconsiderate car drivers and motorcyclists reach while using this road and would support any further traffic calming methods which could be implemented to alleviate the constant problems we experience.

The introduction of a pinch point at Leasingthorne is obviously not enough.

Pedestrians and horse riders in this area regularly risk their lives negotiating the narrow bridge beside Leasingthorne Farm with car drivers passing them too closely and too fast, thus increasing the risk of an animal panicking.

Inexperienced, irresponsible drivers, who are not familiar with the B6288 in this area, regularly lose control on this bend and unfortunately, we now have another innocent casualty. - Christine Sproat, Spennymoor.

ARMY DEATHS

IT is a great pity that a similar amount of time, energy and cost could not have been used to investigate the unfortunate deaths of young soldiers at various barracks (Deepcut, Catterick, etc), as has been used in the Dr David Kelly inquiry.

If this had been so, then some very upset parents may now have a greater peace of mind. - BW Woods, Bedale.