HOW much money is there in Hambleton District Council's reserves? £30m-£35m?

There are about 16,000 to 20,000 people in Northallerton, and only one bin for recycling plastic bottles, on the edge of town. HDC has, in common with all other councils, to meet targets for recycling, but it is playing at it at our expense.

Councillors must not tell us it costs, too, when they are sitting on a nest egg. We pay our council tax for them to provide services, not for it to sit in the bank.

And one of the services we have demonstrated that we support, is recycling facilities. - Christopher Kirk, Brompton, Northallerton.

MIDDLE EAST

PETER Mullen's column (Apr 30) makes one good point. Why should the Ulrika/Sven saga be seen as front page news? But that's as far as it goes.

In relation to Israel, he is wrong in saying that the BBC is anti-semitic. Until very recently, most of the Western media bent over backwards in sympathising about Israel.

It is easy to see why. The images of the Holocaust are still imprinted on people's minds nearly 60 years later and we hope that genocide will not happen again in our lifetime.

The media is now being more even-handed about the Israeli/Palestinian problem. Historically, there is an argument for both Israel and Palestine to have lands in the Middle East.

However, the current situation is not helped by Sharon's murderous incursions into land which Arabs believe is theirs. Sharon did not create what Peter Mullen states are "Arafat's death squads" but Sharon's actions have certainly led to more recruits for Hamas, Islamic Jihad and more suicide bombers.

Peter Mullen obviously wants Arafat removed but doesn't give any indication about who would replace him. The power vacuum in Palestinian politics would probably be filled by people who are implacably opposed to Israel. How would this be a step forward? - Dave Atkinson, Darlington.

ELECTORAL REFORM

TONY Blair's endorsement for the success of democracy in France would carry greater credence if he had not tried to undermine the democratic process in Wales, Scotland and London.

We still await progress on his party's manifesto promise from 1997 for a referendum on electoral reform.

Proportional representation would end the massive power given to the office of Prime Minister from the huge majorities that result from a minority of votes cast in general elections.

True, this might see a member of the BNP elected. However, it might also see an end to the excessive use of the royal prerogative exercised by the Prime Minister and a return to collective decision making and accountability.

The office of Prime Minister is far more powerful than that of the French President. Mr Blair's endorsement of the democratic process is patently dishonest and unworthy. PR would breathe fresh air into local government elections too.

Once people realised that, through PR, their votes mean something, there would be no need for the absurd suggestion of voting at the supermarkets and the like. - Bill Wennington, Press Officer, Teesside Green Party.

INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

DESPITE the desperate plight of many countries in the Third World, we, as a country ranked fourth in terms of wealth, are about to embark on a massive junket to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee.

When the Labour Government in 1997 embarked on a modest redistribution of wealth it appeared that our so-called ethical foreign policies would see our country become a beacon of justice and civilised enlightenment.

Instead, now in Labour's second term we find ourselves allied to a far right US hell-bent on a policy of bellicose bullying towards anybody or any country who dares to confront it.

We threaten countries whose criminality is far less than that of Israel.

We in the West possess 90 per cent of the weapons of mass destruction, yet we demonise Iraq for maybe having a small amount.

Our lack of concern for certain inner city areas has seen an alarming rise in people who are prepared to vote for the far right.

It is not surprising when we get involved in pursuing the divisive policies of President Bush.

Britain used to have good influence with Arab countries, but now we are seen as puppets of the US.

However, the situation is not irretrievable. We must turn our eyes towards our real friends in Europe who anxiously await our decision on the euro.

We can either join with our European allies or retreat into a state of disastrous isolationism. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

MAYOR'S THANK-YOU

MY year as Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland has come to a close. I would to thank the people of Redcar and Cleveland for their wonderful support throughout my year in office.

Together with my three mayoresses, I have undertaken hundreds of engagements and I can say, hand on heart, that we have enjoyed every one, because of the warmth and welcome we have invariably received wherever we have gone during the past 12 months.

I also am very proud that we have raised £16,600 for my charity groups. Cheques for £4,500 were paid to Teesmouth and Redcar Lifeboats and St John Ambulance, and £3,100 was distributed to 32 charity and community groups throughout the borough.

For my part, I have been immensely proud to represent the council, the borough, and the people of Redcar and Cleveland. - Councillor Vilma T Collins, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.