SIR - I am writing to voice my disappointment at the closing of Robin's cinema. I feel that this affects children in particular and this is a group that requires entertainment. The closure also affects non-motorists,who can find it difficult to get public transport to a lot of cinemas. If Consett can sustain a cinema, why can't Durham?

The biggest insult, apart from the fact that the majority of people clearly wanted the cinema to stay, is the fact that the judge who granted Walkabout's licence stated that another pub in North End was needed and would help congestion. I then read that the land in front of the theatre in Durham is being made into two bars, amongst other things! This is how much Walkabout is needed.

Durham is being made into another Newcastle. I can't wait for the new lift-style toilets in North Road - that will certainly add to Durham's class.

L Jackson, Durham City

We're no snobs

SIR - It never strengthens an argument to insult those who do not agree with you.

I have something in common with Mr Attey (You Write, November 23) in that I also live on Western Hill, but I am, alas, considerably older. Nevertheless, I am happy to venture 'beyond my hearth rug' at night, and indeed enjoy a drink and a meal in a North Road establishment one or two times a week.

However, living on Western Hill, we do not experience the difficulties of those of Neville Street and Tenter Terrace. I was astonished to hear that Judge Bolton had dismissed as 'snobbery' the unhappiness of those who found that people had urinated and defecated in their gardens, or the poor lady whose door had been kicked in by some mistaken drunk.

I like young people. I hope they enjoy themselves. However, I am not convinced we need more and more bars and clubs in order to achieve this. The pleasure the ice rink in the Millennium Square is creating at present is a case in point.

Also I am sad to see the number of local traders who have gone out of business when the big businesses moved in. The city is a much poorer shopping area now.

I have twice been nearly knocked down in North Road in the evening, albeit accidentally, by teenagers the worse for drink, and now would not dream of walking through the area on Friday or Saturday evenings. I often take circuitous routes home to avoid this. Consequently I can well imagine why older and frailer persons 'do not venture beyond their hearth rugs.' It does not mean they would not want to.

Lastly, I was most interested to read Mr. Attey's statement that the objectors are in fact a small but vocal minority and would like to ask him from which survey this conclusion is derived.

A citizen, Durham City

Council's case

SIR - Sarah Nicholson (You Write, November 16) appears unaware of the true position when she expresses 'disgust with the behaviour of Durham City Council towards the Robin's cinema'.

The council encouraged Robin's to open in Durham and was supportive of their operation throughout the last decade. However, the Robin's is a private company and the decision to close this commercial enterprise is not one over which the council has any control.

The Walkergate scheme is similarly a private sector development and, although planning permission had been granted for a multiplex cinema, the developer has been unable to attract an operator.

Our Labour group is committed to the continued showing of mainstream films in Durham and is considering the options available, one of which is to use the Gala.

As a prelude, The Lion King will be showing in Gala's wide screen cinema over the school holidays.

Mick Bennett, Durham City Labour Group

Many thanks

SIR - As chairman of Derwentside District Council I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to everyone concerned with the charity fundraising evening held on Friday, November 8, the committee members and staff of Blackhill Comrades Club, Northern Recording and especially Jed Boyle, Greg Taylor, Federation Band, Karen Lewin and Big Jack's Rock and Roll Band.

Special thanks in particular for the assistance of the club committee and of Mr J Dodd, and to everyone who attended the event or purchased raffle tickets.

The charity evening has raised over £500 towards the Chairman's Charities of Willow Burn Hospice and Cancer Research UK.

Thank you all for such a splendid effort.

Coun D Llewellyn, Chairman, Derwentside District Council

Help appreciated

SIR - I would like to send my sincere thanks to the people who came to my aid and who gave up their available time during the Remembrance Service at Consett Civic Centre on Sunday, November 11, especially the leader of Derwentside District Council, councillors Alex Watson and Kathy Clarke, the wife of a dignitary, name unknown, the two St John Ambulance officers, names unknown, and some of the organisers.

Once again I would like to say thank you.

Doreen Clark, Consett

Abysmal display

SIR - Could the abysmal display of festive lights in Silver Street and Saddler Street, mean that Durham City are saving council tax payers' money on three fronts?

Firstly there's the initial cost of the pathetic decorations, secondly the saving on the electricity account, and finally but more significantly the possibility of it being a ploy to stop people looking upwards.

If the lights were any good people would be distracted from dodging the holes and cracks in Durham's medieval (literally) paving.

But with the lights like this, the number of injury claims would be surely reduced as a result.

F A Smith, High Grange Estate, Durham

Recycle more

SIR - A TV programme recently discussed recycling and salvage collection in the EU. It showed Spain as the best with 65 per cent recycled. Britain, at bottom place, managed 11 per cent. For this it received a warning from Brussels that this has got to improve or heavy fines will be enforced.

My own council, Derwentside, provides an adequate service for the collection of paper, metal cans and cloth.

A bin for the collection of glass is approximately two miles from my home and is usually full to overflowing when I visit the site. The main ingredients of landfill sites - plastic bottles - are not collected.

I live in a row of 11 houses and I am the only resident who puts out salvage. Opposite is a similar row of 11 houses and also only one resident putting out salvage.

A while back, I spoke to one of the council's salvage collectors who said they spend more time searching for salvage, rather than collecting it.

I get the impression that the citizens of Derwentside, and indeed the rest of the country, would rather waste their own money and expend unnecessary energy lifting dustbin lids to deposit salvage rather than just put it next to the bin.

Name and address supplied

Forgotten village

SIR - As members of the South Moor neighbourhood watch, we feel compelled to write to you and voice our concerns about our village.

Overall we feel that South Moor has been missed out, passed by and generally forgotten about and maybe there is an underlying agenda for South Moor that we the residents don't know about.

Some of the private landlords are buying up cheap property, putting in either problem families or failing to put in tenants, causing numerous problems and thus placing the area in more decline.

Resources seem to be deployed in other areas except ours. We even appear to be the forgotten village of no name!

We are dismayed at the frequent non-attendance of councillors, police and other outside agencies at our meetings.

We feel that at least if they are there we can discuss our concerns in an attempt to move forward, however slowly, to improve living conditions in our village for everyone concerned.

Our next meeting, as always, is the third Monday of the month, December 16, at 7pm.

South Moor Neighbourhood Watc