Hear All Sides

IDENTITY CARDS

THE debate on the pros and cons of compulsory identity cards is really missing the point. Like other legal documents, the majority of law-abiding citizens acquire those required - driving licence, passport, birth certificate and others - legitimately.

This has not stopped the less honest and dubious making use of the widespread network of forgers and professional acquirers of these essential documents. I do not suspect for one moment that these people will have any fear of identity cards or the obtaining of one because, as has been shown over the years, where there is a demand there will always be a supplier.

I do not have any strong feelings either way and would find carrying an ID card of little worry. However, what is of concern is what other measures is the Government introducing under the guise of public security?

We already have the distressing, and often unnecessary, spectacle of armed police attending every incident, however minor. And this 'back door' arming of the police, in a democracy where the unwritten rule has always been of policing by consent, is worrying in light of the many abuses of civil liberties reported in the media.

We must not hand the Government an 'open cheque' in these potentially dangerous times for fear that it may be spent unwisely, without the correct checks and counter measures being taken to protect our personal liberties. - David T Colling, Bishop Auckland.

I AGREE wholeheartedly with your comment on ID cards (Echo, Sept 24). The benefits outweigh any infringement on civil liberties, especially in view of the explosion of illegal immigrants trying to reach Britain.

I thought our population was 57 million, but now it's 60 million which means the real immigrant figure is close to one million per year.

This strains our social services, schools, hospitals - which all cost the taxpayers.

I've no objection to genuine asylum seekers, but this ship is getting overloaded. - FM Atkinson, Shincliffe.

COUNTRYSIDE

HUGH Pender (HAS, Sep 25) suggests we should all read Beatrix Potter books, with his weekly swipe at those who live, work or gain pleasure in the countryside.

Whether you like it or not, the countryside is all managed to a certain degree, whether it's schoolchildren counting types of trees, bird lovers counting birds, animal groups checking on any number of creatures, fishermen checking salmon on the spawning grounds.

Without all of this work by many groups, including farmers, hunters, fishermen and anyone who would much prefer to assist and volunteer than sit back and crow, then how do we find out where the problems are?

Mr Pender and the rest of the urban warriors would struggle to know the difference between a beech and a broomshank, a minnow and a bullfrog or a sparrow and a kestrel.

They have all the questions but none of the answers, apart from that anyone who owns a pair of wellies perpetrates animal cruelty. - J Tague, Bishop Auckland.

I CAN sincerely assure your contributors who doubt farmers' integrity and ability to look after the countryside that farmers need all legitimate payments to earn a living, while helping the environment and competing against cheaper imports from more doubtful sources.

Recent examples reported include: meat imported from countries endemic in FMD, which could easily carry diseases which are far more dangerous to human health; animal parts which could carry BSE from Europe; horticultural products from Spain on which insecticides long banned in this country have been used; timber from Brazil, the felling of which causes enormous damage to the world environment.

Aspersions seem to be made that payments have been taken advantage of in this country, but this is minimal compared to the fraud and corruption of the CAP in Europe. I don't say farming has not been responsible for some neglect, but I hope the general public will realise the tremendous expense and effort in recent years that has gone into making British farming environmentally and food safety wise far better than most other countries.

Judging by the reaction of tourists and country lovers, there seems little wrong with the countryside as it is. - J Heslop, Gainford.

ROAD SAFETY

PRAISE where it's due to those concerned for trying to improve Willington High Street.

A pity, though, that all efforts are targeted on the centre, with little thought for us up near the top of the village, where the road is an absolute hazard to cross.

For too long, villagers have had to run a gauntlet of vehicles in order to make a safe passage across the road. The one decent park with equipment is at the top of the village, yet children cannot be allowed to cross this road because there is an accident waiting to happen.

The two crossings in the middle of the village are within spitting distance of each other, and slow down traffic admirably but, get further up the High Street and vehicles have had more than enough opportunity to accelerate to excessive speeds.

The absence of our treasured lollipop lady makes the road even more treacherous to traverse. Will it take an accident, or even worse, a death, before something is done? So when will we get our crossing? - F Rolfe, Willington.

CHURCHYARD CLEAN-UP

I WOULD like to express my surprise and thanks to whoever strimmed the wilderness in the old churchyard of St James' at Hamsterley.

On my last visit, I counted twelve graves with flowers on them, now that they can be found.

Let us hope that the strimming is not just a one-off, but the beginning of the restoration of the churchyard. - Mrs EA Spottiswood, Bellingham, Northumberland.