SIR - We continue to hear and read the propaganda from Durham City Council about the Gala Theatre and I don't believe a word of it.

The income-earning capacity of a 500-seat theatre is very limited. Pushing up seat prices to obtain revenue reduces sales and revenue, yet the performance fees, staff and overheads all have to be met every week.

In this enterprise, there should also be a mortgage or building cost and a realistic figure for rates, but I doubt these have been included. Overall, the theatre is bound to generate losses.

Meanwhile, the library is simply a charge on the rates as a public service. Durham County Connexions has taken part of the building (another public expense), and the large-screen cinema seems to be the result of a failed projected multi-screen enterprise, which also will generate a loss.

Even if the cinema were to have succeeded it would have forced the closure of Robin's Cinema, whose owners were encouraged by the city council to operate and upgrade the closed cinema in North Road. This seems to me to be a moral breach of trust.

Many of us would like to have a theatre in Durham but the reality is that theatres countrywide have all struggled progressively harder to survive over recent decades. I cannot see any obvious reason why Durham should be any different than anywhere else. Rather the reverse in fact.

The enterprise is new and bears the highest costs, does not have an established following, or any experience in running theatres and is sited in a location where access is very difficult, parking expensive and demonically enforced by NCP on behalf of the county council. There aren't any drop or collection arrangements for the city.

If anyone else tried to set up an enterprise on this basis no-one would be surprised to see a failure at the end of it. The bills are already mounting on next year's rates, as the city council continues to pump our money into this enterprise, contrary to its undertakings.

All I can see is a widening financial black hole in front of us all - and more propaganda on the way..

John Morgan, Coxhoe

Open or closed?

SIR - I was a little confused by last week's letter from Mick Bennett, the local Labour Party's mouthpiece. According to him, all council meetings are open to the public, yet the decision to continue running the Gala Theatre was made behind closed doors.

Can Mr Bennett make his mind up, and let us know?

As regards the Gala Theatre, I would hope that its continued existence does not cost the ratepayers another penny. Having had to bear the cost of computers, furniture and free theatre tickets, I think we deserve a break.

Incidentally, surely the council leader, Coun Manton, could have discussed next year's plans either in a council meeting or over his computer with his Labour colleagues, not on a dinner date. Or was it another excuse for another freebie?

Lastly, there is not a political motive behind this letter, Mr Bennett. I am just fed up with the amount of money wasted by this Labour council.

No doubt after next year's double-digit rates increase (will it be ten per cent or more, Mick?), the Government will get the blame for cutting subsidies.

S Grendale. Belmont

Grimy management

SIR - I've been watching A Life of Grime on TV over the last few weeks. On TV it shows the binmen dealing with all kinds of household rubbish - beds, fridges, wooden furniture, bricks plus household and garden rubbish.

If anything is left outside a house for disposal it is picked up there and then. Not in Derwentside, it is always someone else's problem.

If we want anything cleaned up or at times taken away we have to ask our independent councillors for help as Labour councillors are hard to find, and when we do find one we still get nothing done.

Can someone from Durham County Council and Derwentside tell us ratepayers and rent payers why we have the most decrepit services run by out-of-touch managers?

Mr Manton of County Hall, Durham, has stated that his aims are to look after his public, the environment, a good strong economy and to set out the council's priorities for the communities.

He should start at Derwentside first and ask the public what we want, which is very little.

My final request is that every councillor, local or county, has their fees, committees, quangos and perks itemised in the press so that we, the general public, can see just how our rent and rates are being used.

B Williams, Conset.