DURHAM CITY

OVER the first weekend of December, Durham Cathedral, a beacon of Christian civilisation, has been packed with folk attending Advent carol services.

But on November 30, a council panel approved a public entertainment licence for the proposed Chicago Rock in the former Palladium Cinema. What better way to enhance the unique character of Durham than an Australian theme pub in North Road, and an American nightspot in Claypath?

Luminar Leisure doesn't care about the roots of Christian civilisation, past or present. Durham is just another setting for its American-style package of commercial entertainment.

Thank goodness there are folk who recognise that there's more to life than drinking, but the spirit of the city is under threat by chains such as Luminar. - CJC Thomas, Secretary, Claypath & District Residents' Association.

PRE-BUDGET STATEMENT

STAMP duty has been raised four times by Chancellor Gordon Brown. He has left it at the same level in most areas, but adjusted the threshold from £60,000 to £150,000 in what he calls deprived districts.

So, how many houses are worth more than £60,000 in deprived areas, and how many houses are bought and sold in these districts? The answer to both questions is none, or very few. So where is the real benefit?

We'll add this to the fact that Mr Brown abolished mortgage tax relief and retained the very unfair, farcical council tax system, which hammers working families and pensioners, who saved and worked all their lives, and is about four times that of the much fairer poll tax.

OK, the interest rate is low, but not for the benefit of homeowners, but to head off the possibility of recession.

If you try in life, you get punished in Britain. Fairness in Britain under Labour? I think not. - Jim Tague, Bishop Auckland.

SINGLE CURRENCY

CLAIMS that so-called 'eurocreep' will lead to widespread use of the euro in Britain next year are hugely exaggerated.

Despite all the hype, British retailers do not expect any significant change to their businesses. Major retailers already accept foreign currencies, but tourists have not rushed to use them in the past, and there is nothing to suggest that they will be any more inclined to pay in euros next year.

The fact that some retailers will accept euros is not an argument for replacing the pound. If we can use up our remaining euro notes and coins when we return from holiday without actually having to give up control of our economy, then we have the best of both worlds.

Of course, companies with operations in the Eurozone will be affected by the introduction of the euro and their accounting systems will need to be adapted to ensure that they can deal with it. But for everyone else, the euro is just another foreign currency.

The politicians who want to replace the pound have failed to learn from their past mistakes. Our last currency experiment, the ERM, was a disaster for Britain.

It is not inevitable that we will repeat past mistakes. It might be the political ambition of the Prime Minister to lock Britain into the euro, but it will not be his decision.

The Government's job is to decide if and when there should be a referendum. It is for the British people to decide whether or not we should actually join and we should have the confidence to do what's best for Britain and say "no". - John Elliott, Chairman, Business for Sterling North-East.

REGIONAL GOVERNMENT

IN introducing a Northern Regional Assembly, it would be almost inevitable that the county councils would be abolished. And now there is talk of getting rid of the borough/district councils as well.

This is openly undemocratic as it takes away powers from local representatives and gives it to distant and remote assembly members in Newcastle or Durham.

Also, these members would not be selected by local people, but by the regional parties.

Power should be devolved from Westminster and the regional quangos like One NorthEast and given back to local government, to replace the powers taken away during 18 years of Tory government.

While we are at it, we should also abolish the undemocratic cabinet system of local government and go back to the committee system which is much more democratic. - Martin Jones, Liberal Democrat, Spennymoor.

RAY MALLON

I WAS saddened to read (Echo, Dec 1) that Ray Mallon may be prevented from standing for election as Middlesbrough's first directly-elected Mayor.

Although he has been cleared long ago of any criminal wrongdoing, this farcical long-running saga still rolls on.

To think that it has taken four years and £7m of ratepayers' money, and the police still have not concluded this 'investigation'.

It seems to me that we have been robbed of a first-class policeman for four years.

It is time the head of Cleveland Police brought this matter to an early conclusion and let Ray Mallon get on with his life and give him a chance to do some good in the community once more. - Dick Lawson, Darlington.

POST OFFICE

I AM delighted it appears that a post office will continue to be provided in Grange Villa.

The council was dismayed some weeks ago at the thought of the service being withdrawn because of Mr Wilde's retirement. But it now appears a successor has been found.

Post offices are often the lifeblood of villages, and too many have been closed over the years. - Malcolm Pratt, Leader, Chester-le-Street District Council.

WAR ON TERRORISM

THE correspondents who oppose Peter Mullen on the Afghan conflict should bear in mind the fact that Osama bin Laden took it upon himself to declare holy war on America and its allies.

His followers are fanatics, who are taught that martyrdom in a holy war is the gateway to paradise.

Bin Laden bombed two American embassies and an American ship, killing hundreds, and his attack on the Twin Towers was intended to draw America into war.

He expected to incite Islam against the West. His ultimate aim is a world run by Taliban-style repression.

May be Peter Mullen has missed his calling. He should be a politician instead. He would get my vote. Critics of Mr Mullen do not seem to live in the real world. - Adam Clarke, Darlington.

SIR ELTON JOHN

SIR Elton John's decision to make no more records (Echo, Dec 5) is the best decision he has ever made.

This chap is an insult, not only to the piano, but also to vocalism. So much for his followers' taste. This lot have made Sir Elton stinking rich.

And as for Sir Cliff Richard's rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Christmas would be brightened up without it. - Alfred Lister, Guisborough.

AUCTION PRICE

I WAS in a great hurry last Monday and was only able to leaf through the paper.

I was struck by the headline: "£10m sale price sets record for Reynolds painting". I didn't know George was a dab hand with a brush. - Bill Ingham, Darlington.