Hear All Sides

GEORGE DENT NURSERY

I WOULD like to take the time to commend Mrs Pennington, her staff and volunteers of George Dent Nursery, Elms Road, Darlington, in the excellent work they do.

The nursery itself has been highly acclaimed by Ofsted and is excellent in the way children are encouraged to develop play and social skills. The nursery is an integral part of the heritage of Darlington. - C Telfer, Darlington.

GERMAN BOMBING

YOUR recent articles on the bombing of Teesside revived my memory of Bank Holiday Monday, August 3, 1942, when Middlesbrough railway station was bombed.

I was working at that time in Dicksons Shipyard in Dock Street, and had been sent home (for doing something naughty). When I reached Bridge Street, I heard a drone of an aircraft and realised that it must be German as all RAF planes used petrol and the German Luftwaffen used diesel fuel.

I looked up and saw a Dornier 217 - being an ATC cadet I had learned a lot of aircraft recognition. It began to jink as a small amount of flak went up and then I saw the bombs dropping from it and realised I should be on the floor and not standing up watching.

The railway station was hit as I continued on my way home.

I don't know if it is true but it was reported that the explosions were heard as far away as Darlington.

There were many pictures taken and printed in all the local papers but I think the most informative were in a book written by Bill Norman of Guisborough, who even managed to print my photographs (as a teenager in the ATC). - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

MINERS

YOUR correspondent (HAS, Aug 25) seems to suggest that it was only the miners who were badly done to regarding working conditions and pensions.

People were dying, fighting and many others working extremely long hours under severe hardship as well as paying their taxes.

There are many workers who have suffered ill health through their working lives and have not received any kind of compensation and who were earning a lot less for working a lot longer hours.

Many miners, especially after the war years under nationalisation, were working in the pits because the pay and working hours were a lot better and because they did not have to do National Service.

The miners have certainly fared a lot better than many other workers and their families regarding handouts and a pension fund. - John Young, Crook.

NHS

IT is a sad indictment of the state of Britain's health service that patients should have to seek medical attention abroad. Labour has tried to maintain that this new policy is part of a coherent health package, but the reality is that the Government's hand has been forced.

In upholding the principle of freedom to provide services within the EU, the judgement of the European Court of Justice has rightly put the Government on the spot and brought the deficiencies of our NHS into sharp focus.

As citizens of the EU and consumers in a single market, we all have the right to look abroad when our own health service leaves us waiting too long. Clearly, for most patients this is not an acceptable long-term solution.

There can be no doubt that our NHS needs prolonged funding to give our citizens a level of health care similar to that on the Continent.

The evidence speaks for itself. Denmark, for example, spends 40 per cent more per head of population on its health service than the UK. Germany spends even more than that.

As a result, Denmark has a 90 per cent public satisfaction rating compared to 48 per cent here in Britain. - Diana Wallis MEP, Yorkshire and Humber.

LITTER LOUTS

WHY do some people love to throw away their rubbish, leaving an unsightly mess for others to see and cause a blight on the environment?

Recently, I walked along the track of the old Darlington to Barnard Castle railway behind the Minors Crescent area of Cockerton. The footpath along the old railway is used as a dumping ground - discarded carpets, car parts, old furniture litter the area.

One place in particular is used by children to smoke and drink, leaving their evidence in the form of empty beer cans, bottles, cigarette packets and goodness knows what else.

The energy one uses to drag discarded carpets in particular to this area could better be used in taking them to the local tip or just phoning the council who will collect free of charge.

Alas, no, they love to dump and create eyesores. People who carry out this type of act must get some kind of buzz from the excitement of dumping and hoping no one spots them.

Signs advising of fines for illegal dumping are of no use.

Dumping will continue and again the council has the job of cleaning up after these people, which once again puts another burden on the council tax payer. - DL Reed, Darlington.