I WAS brought up to believe that quality sells itself so why was it necessary for Tony Blair's cold sell merchants to come up here to tell us all about the proposed regional assembly?

However, it is a basic tenet that a lie cannot exist without a truth, so what is the truth?

Lie number one. We are told that the assembly will bring prosperity to the North-East. My latest pension increase was more than swallowed up by the increase in council tax. We are told the assembly will cost us a further 5p a week on this tax and that it will have powers to increase the tax still further, presumably to fund the expense accounts of its members (or perhaps to give them all a computer). How is this prosperity?

Lie number two. The assembly will give us a louder voice in parliament. I thought that in a parliamentary democracy we already had such a voice (or do I have to use my computer?).

Don't just accept what anyone tells you, least of all a Member of Parliament. Think for yourself and, when you have made up your own mind, think it all over again.

Eventually you will reach your own conclusion and you will find that the devil we know is better than the one we don't, even if they do spend money like it grows on trees. - E Nelson, Darlington.

I ENTIRELY agree with Harry Mead (Echo May 15). There is no doubt in my mind that the whole concept is based on 'divide and rule'.

The very fact that the only name which can be given to this so-called region is 'North-East England' gives the game away; England has been a united country for so long that the names given to the separate kingdoms which once existed are long gone. And what about boundaries?

The idea that Great Broughton should be in a different region from Middlesbrough is ridiculous.

Indeed, I would go further and suggest that Whitby and Northallerton are equally part of the North-East.

I strongly suspect that the idea of splitting England into regions comes from Brussels, which would view with horror an English Parliament that, at times, would be very awkward to deal with; and it is naturally supported by our present Government because such a parliament might have an in-built Conservative majority.

I was born and brought up in (West) Hartlepool and I am still proud of my County Durham roots. I find it strange that attempts are constantly being made to destroy our true sense of identity and provide us with new and spurious ones, Hartlepool being constantly re-badged as Cleveland, Teesside and now Tees Valley. The final blow will be struck if the County of Durham disappears altogether, as seems likely.

I hope, therefore, that the people of this region will have the good sense to reject this concept and see it for what it is: an expensive gravy train of no benefit to anyone, save those for whom it provides well paid jobs. Let us ask the all important question: why is central government so enthusiastic about regional government? - Peter W Elliott, Stockton-on-Tees.

TONY BLAIR

WILL the people wake up and see what damage Tony Blair and his Labour puppet MPs all together are doing and have done to our once lovely country?

I said in a letter three years ago that Mr Blair's sole ambition was to be top dog in Europe and that he would get our country into Europe, the cesspit of corruption.

I also said he will be remembered as the man who took the Great out of Britain. He is not only hell-bent on casting up our country's silver and our greenbelts, but he has just sent the Laurel and Hardy of politics, John Prescott and Stephen Byers, to tell the people in our area how good Labour's new area generation will be for our people. If, as Mr Blair tells us, our country will be better off in Europe, why are we getting thousands of illegal immigrants and why are we getting millions of pounds invested here when France, Germany and Italy are trembling with financial problems?

I would just like to see some of our Labour MPs stand up against this dictator who will destroy our country and freedom with his puppet regime. - F Wealands, Darlington.

SAFE PAVEMENTS

M FENTON (HAS, May 18) expressed concerns at the authorities turning a blind eye to cycling and vehicles parked on the pavement.

I would imagine these sentiments would be echoed by the majority of Darlington people and not just about cycles and parking, but all other hazards and obstructions highlighted in the Pavements for People document.

Darlington Association on Disability started the Pavements for People campaign in October 2000, we have worked hard with the authorities in producing the guidelines and I have been given assurance that they will be enforced. However, anyone can talk a good job but seeing it in practice is what is needed.

Darlington Association on Disability will continue to monitor and remind the local authority of its obligation, as should Darlington people themselves, by reporting any incidence they come across and, if they feel that this is not being acted on, then contact me at Darlington Association on Disability on 489999. - Gordon Pybus, Chairman, Darlington Association on Disability.

LUNCH BREAKS

RUTH Campbell (Echo, May 17) advises the Nissan car workers to go down to the pub for their lunch the 'same as everyone'.

Since Ruth obviously enjoys her lunch in the pub, she naively believes that everyone else does.

In my own case, there was no pub handy enough to go to. I had to be content with a bottle of water to wash down my jam sandwich as I took a break from digging coal under the North Sea. To be exact, it was in the Hutton seam.

In any case, it is extremely doubtful that the Nissan management would agree with her suggestion. - T Bowyer, Peterlee.