SIR - Are the children of Newton Hall safe?

This week, yet another major study has been published which casts doubt over the safety of mobile telephones. Why then, is the council seemingly content to allow Hutchinson Telecom to place a 20-metre-high mobile telephone mast in the car park of the Newton Hall pub?

The new mast will be larger and more powerful than its predecessor, carrying 'additional antennae and transmission dishes.'

No one knows what the consequent low-level radiation will do to anyone who resides or passes through the area. What all scientists seem to be agreed upon, however, is that children are at the greatest risk.

This mast will not only be very near to housing, but also only a stone's throw away from Blue Coat and St Godric's schools.

The residents of Bamburgh Road (which faces the back of the Newton Hall pub) have started a petition which urges the council to reject the planning application for this new mast.

A recent ruling in the Court of Appeal declared that the council CAN take into account concerns about the health risks of mobile phone masts when considering planning applications, even though there is not yet absolute proof of these risks.

We are sure that, like us, you care about the health of our children and their future. We urge you to telephone the local councillor, Philip Wolstenholme, with your concerns and sign this petition before its too late.

The petition can be found at Martin's newsagents, Alnwick Road shops.

Residents of Bamburgh Road, Newton Hall, Durham

Precarious balance

SIR - Your letter from four supporters of Israel made me smile. It reminded me of a cartoon I saw many years ago.

In it Moses was on Mount Sinai holding a second Tablet of Stone. He was saying: "Now, in the interest of balance..." - and the second tablet read: "Thou shalt covet thy neighbour's wife; thou shalt kill..."

Can the four supporters of Israel not see that it could just be that Israel is the guiltier party in this conflict? Surely they are not trying to justify - in the name of balance - the terrible crimes committed by Israel against generations of Palestinians.

There is a simple way to stop the violence: end the illegal and brutal Israeli occupation.

Thea Khamis, Stanley

Questions for Israel

SIR - Your correspondents (Israel's view, June 22) claim that many of the 2,000 Durham people who signed the petition to end the occupation of Palestine by Israel do not have a valid picture of the conflict. Do they want us to believe that Palestinians are occupying Israel?

Perhaps they would like to give us more of their picture.

Is it Israelis or the Palestinians who continue to defy 69 UN Security Council resolutions?

Which routinely violates the international borders of the other with warplanes, artillery and naval gunfire?

Which has high-ranking military officers who admit publicly that unarmed prisoners were executed?

Which created, according to the UN, 762,000 refugees and refuses to allow them to return to their homes, farms and businesses?

Which steals the water resources which rightly belong to the other?

Suicide bombings are morally indefensible. They cause as much pain and suffering to Israel families as the morally indefensible murder of civilians by Israeli soldiers inflict on Palestinian families.

But would your correspondents argue that Palestinians do not have the right to resist their occupiers as the French and others did against German Occupation in the Second World War? Or that Israel has any more right than the Germans to reply with mass reprisal punishments against civilians?

It would be interesting to have their answers.

Vin McIntyre, Durham

Crossing points

SIR - I write with reference to my campaign to have a pelican crossing put in place on the A690 at Meadowfield. I would like to thank the near 500 people who signed my petition and took the time to talk to me about their concerns.

I am now in receipt of a letter from area traffic engineer David Parsons. In this letter Mr Parsons informs me the relevant counts have been carried out and then goes on to say that these counts fell below those needed to justify a pelican crossing.

I find this amazing, as will anyone who has attempted to cross this tremendously busy road.

Other tests are now under way and I await their findings.

As Mr Parsons is well aware his department follows a set procedure and then makes recommendations. The final decision rests with our elected representatives.

County councillor Mr Rogers has assured me he is doing all he can to see this crossing put in place.

My opinion, perhaps, does not carry the weight of a councillor but rest assured, I shall continue.

P Taylor, Meadowfield, Durham

Look, don't just talk

SIR - So, top Labour politicians were recently meeting in County Hall to 'talk about health' (Advertiser, June 15)?

Did they take the short walk down the road to the new University Hospital of North Durham to see the problems building a hospital without enough beds has caused the people of County Durham, despite the excellent work of the staff?

Did they see the patients stuck in hospital beds they no longer need because there are not enough affordable nursing home places?

Did they visit Derwentside to hear the concerns residents have about having to travel to Bishop Auckland for their operations?

If Labour stands a chance of improving our Health Service, it needs to make sure the NHS is run based on the needs of its patients, not on the whims of politicians or to make enough money for private finance providers.

People must come first. The current mess in County Durham shows what happens if they don't.

Paul Leake, Crossgate Moor, Durham

Best Value will out

SIR - From letters you have published regarding your article 'Councillors to get free computers' (May 3) there appears evidence that the costs of buying and running are not value for money.

As the DTLR advised me with regard to council tax increases, the Best Value audit is the only realistic control on councils. Let us see what action the district auditor takes in this matter.

Should the district auditor see the costs as not value for money, then the county councillors who benefited will be accountable.

H G Hansen, Durham

A sad loss

SIR - We were all very sad to hear of the death of Billy Cleary from Pittington. He was a man who kept tradition very close to his heart.

Every year he would travel with Pittington Brass, on the morning of Miners' Gala, to Seaham to march with the Vane Tempest banner there and later through Durham. He was a genuinely nice man.

Andrew Johnson, Pittington Brass Band secretary

Grateful survivor

SIR - I am that lady who was mugged in Hawthorn Terrace in April. I would like to thank anyone in any shape or form who helped me get over this nasty experience. Thanking you.

D. Douglas, Durham