THE ARC

IT is sad to see Stockton Arc closing through lack of money.

Most businesses which start up probably need more than three years to break even. This place is really a public amenity and should be subsided to a certain extent. - FM Atkinson, Shincliffe.

REGIONAL GOVERNMENT

THE best reason for a powerful Northern Assembly is a long memory.

The Thatcher government was able to disregard the whole region, ride roughshod over our views and ignore our justified complaints.

It brought industry down to nothing and encouraged a shiftless, crime-ridden society. No government of whatever colour ought to be able to treat the North in such a way in future.

That is why we ought to stand together as the strong, independent and vigorous people that we are. Democracy ought not to be on a ration.

The only people afraid of more participation in government by our people, are those with a "daddy knows best" approach to life.

It is both a patriotic and economic essential to have a clear, strong and democratic regional voice. - Coun Colin Anderson, Leader of the Council, City of Sunderland.

PRIME MINISTER

COLUMNIST Harry Mead (Echo, Nov 14) cannot understand why the Prime Minister surrounds himself with friends. No doubt if Mr Mead were Prime Minister he would surround himself with enemies.

That is exactly what Margaret Thatcher did, all her top cabinet posts were filled by her enemies. That was because she had no friends and, as we now know, it was her own colleagues who finally ousted the lady.

Top Tory spin doctor, Amanda Platell, told us in a TV documentary that, during the last election campaign, William Hague was continually being back-stabbed by the people he had appointed to his shadow cabinet.

That is the reason, Mr Mead, why Tony Blair appoints friends as his political advisors, people he can trust.

Something else Harry Mead cannot understand is why Anji Hunter, a friend of Mr Blair's since school days, has left Downing Street to take a job with BP. I may be rather nave but I believe the reason is that BP has doubled her salary. - B Robson, Haswell.

BLAKESTON SCHOOL

YOU published an article (Echo, Nov 12) about an award won by a Mrs Robinson for her work as a community project manager at the Blakeston School, Stockton.

The report indicated the school is surrounded by poverty and poor housing and other things.

I feel, like many others, that this is complete fabrication. In fact, it is close to the Roseworth Estate, which is open planned.

It has excellent housing, a mixture of council and privately-owned houses. I have lived on the estate for 41 years and own mine like many others.

Furthermore, to the rear of the school is all open farmland. It is also close to homes in the Norton area of Stockton which are privately owned. The bulk of the pupils at the school come from these and similar housing areas.

The area was falsely presented in the article and I feel a visit to the area would confirm my opinion. - A Ferguson, Stockton-on-Tees.

DOMINIC MCKILLIGAN

BOTH Bournemouth Social Services Department and Aycliffe Young People's Centre were supposed to inform Tyneside Police of the danger to young boys presented by Dominic McKilligan.

Each expected the other to do so, and as a result, neither of them did. They should now be berating themselves over the hideous destruction of a young life.

However, isn't it true that, in such establishments, the horrendous and ever-growing mountains of paperwork hopelessly obstruct all chances of effective communication, or indeed contact with reality?

Of course, senior civil servants etc, have always lived in a world of make believe, but now this is becoming true even of people with real jobs. - T Kelly, Crook.

KIDNEY PATIENTS

FOLLOWING the amazing response to my last appeal for used postage stamps, foreign coins, and supermarket rewards, we have been able to give over 40 young kidney patients a holiday this summer, for which we send you all our most sincere thanks.

However, Children on Dialysis is an ongoing appeal for which we need your continued help, so that we can give these unfortunate youngsters and those who love and care for them the support and help that they so desperately need, more so at this special time of year.

We beg you to carry on sending all those items, which might be destined for the waste bin, especially the foreign coins, because even though the euro is about to become legal currency in most European countries, we can continue to raise much needed funds with them. - Sylvia Burrows, Appeals Secretary, The British Kidney Patient Association.

LAW AND ORDER

WHAT has happened to some young people of today that they use any excuse to destroy and vandalise? Mischief Night is a tradition that it would be far better to do without if it is made the excuse for wrecking telephone boxes, bus shelters and ornamental flower pots, as in Marske (Echo, Nov 6).

It is a sad reflection on the behaviour of all too many youngsters that a Marske resident commented that it was: "a surprise the pots lasted as long as they did".

The majority of young people quite rightly deserve much praise for their achievements. Sadly, there is a sizeable minority in our community who deserve no praise at all.

They are the ones who are now almost expected to cause trouble. As usual, at this time of the year, there are reports of war memorials being vandalised, causing distress to many elderly veterans. There must be some way to reach these young people who find their satisfaction in destroying what others value. - EA Moralee, Billingham.