THE opening of the Internet caf at Darlington Memorial Hospital is good news but it is time for a co-ordinated approach to the provision of computer facilities for public use throughout the borough.

Local initiatives have seen such provision at a number of places. They include Willow Road church hall (council funded), Skerne Park (Government sponsored), Morrison's North Road (firm, council, MP and police co-operating).

It is the Government directive for the provision of a "people's network" of Internet access that is going wrong in Darlington.

Funding is provided on a population basis - on condition that the computers are in public libraries.

Darlington has only two libraries and the council has decided to put its full quota of 60 in one place - the Crown Street library. Administratively convenient, no doubt, but in no way a network.

As often happens, central government directives take no account of local differences. Hartlepool has ten branch libraries so can network its quota of computers around the borough.

Surely Darlington can make a case for siting its computers at accessible places throughout the borough - something for ward councillors to apply themselves to investigate? - EG Hill, Darlington.

JUSTICE FOR MINERS

SOME 15 years ago following redundancy after over 30 years as a coal miner, I had occasion to seek the services of my local doctor regarding a pulmonary malfunction.

Subsequent specialist examination and diagnosis revealed that I was suffering from chronic bronchitis, a condition that has steadily worsened with the passing of time.

Five years ago I took heed of NUM advice and put forward a claim for compensation from the NCB. I am still awaiting any settlement of that claim.

This totally unacceptable period between claim and settlement appears to be the norm and not exceptional by any means.

The treatment of coal miner compensation claimants is a national scandal to be laid fairly and squarely at the door of this New Labour Government.

Perhaps, if our local MP paid a little more respect to their honour-bound obligation to serve the general public interest, rather than pander to party loyalty, social justice might then prevail. - AW Dunn, Spennymoor.

POSTAL SERVICES

M KELLETT (HAS, May 24) is to be commended for his concern for the postal workers, but unfortunately, has many facts wrong.

With competition from telephone, fax and email, Royal Mail needs to advertise aggressively.

Sir Elton John gets to play his own music in this advertisement and, because of this, only charged a modest fee for his services and it is Royal Mail that is being advertised, not Parcel Force.

The blame for the Post Office's (sorry Consignia's) financial predicament lies with the Government-appointed regulator who is coercing Royal Mail to do its job at less than cost, supposedly to look after the public interest.

Try going shopping with just 19p in your pocket and see what you can buy. For this small price, Royal Mail will deliver your letter to the door on the Shetland Isles, the Isles of Scilly or any part of the realm in between.

By the way, Royal Mail did use its own staff in the Elton John ad. - M Forester, Spennymoor.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

DO we all now have a licence to steal a tin of beans whenever we go shopping?

The thief who stole a tin and then decided to be tried by a jury and cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds effectively got away with his crime.

Surely, no shop or store would prosecute if all the thief has to do is demand trial by jury? It would be cheaper to give everyone a tin when they entered the shop.

The thief should be grateful that he did not commit a heinous offence such as driving over 30mph on a restricted road or, worse still, streaking in front of the Queen's car. After all, she is the head of the country and might throw a tin of beans at the next streaker. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

MUSIC FESTIVALS

AT a recent meet of the Northern Forum of the British and International Federation of Festivals, your article (Echo, May 7) was brought to our attention.

The article stated that the Upper Weardale Musical Festival was one of the last surviving musical festivals in the region.

The feeling at our meeting was unanimous that this statement be refuted as the festival movement is very much alive in our region, providing opportunities for young people and adults to take part in friendly competition. In fact, many of the festivals in the area are growing year by year.

Of the Festival Federation's 306 festivals, there are 18 in the Northern region, 12 of which are in the North-East and six in Cumbria, covering all branches of the performing arts and most including music.

In addition, there are five festivals in North Yorkshire belonging to the Yorkshire and Humberside region. - Aprille C Bonner, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria.