Letters

WOULDN'T it be nice for English football if the FA would set aside its doubts and differences with Terry Venables and give him the job of coaching the England team? He is a seasoned professional, knows his stuff, and he could do as well as anyone. Conversely, it will be a sad day if the FA cannot come to terms with the fact that he has been less than perfect in the past. It should concentrate on football. - FM Atkinson, Shincliffe.

RELIGION

CONTRARY to Rev Ted Spiller's opinion (HAS, Oct 21), I think Harry Mead is very much on the right side - the side of Peace. There will always be Christians, Muslims, Jews, atheists, etc., and it is inevitable that the adherents of every religion will regard others as in some way mistaken.

This can be accepted in a spirit of tolerance and mutual respect, but in practice all too often leads to repression, persecution and war, with some of the worst atrocities committed by those claiming to be doing "the will of God". The trouble with divine guidance is that it is open to many contradictory interpretations and often enables the religious fanatic to disclaim responsibility for his actions on the grounds that he was only following orders from above.

Far better, in my opinion, to accept that if there is any meaning to the concepts of heaven and hell it must be in terms of our responsibility to this world. We have the power to destroy it and the knowledge to turn it into a paradise. We all have responsibilities to one another and to future generations, which should transcend religious allegiance. - Pete Winstanley, Chester-le-Street.

ENVIRONMENT

TONY Blair wants the green lobby and business to work together to improve the environment.

Mistaking platitude for partnership, it is like assuming equality between landlords and tenants, employers and workers, racists and asylum seekers, rich and poor, white and black.

Last week exposed the conflict between private profit-making and public safety (in transport). The Government must choose - between the short-term greed of the anti-health, pro-pollution multi-nationals and their mass media, and the continuing long-term need of the public. - John Nicholson, Manchester.

FUEL DUTIES

JONATHAN James's comments about fuel duties (HAS, Oct 21) are impertinent, misleading and selfishly centred upon the interests of those who presumably employ him.

A letter in similar tone recently appeared over the signature of a Mr Troy, who claimed to represent small businesses.

These people and many of your readers should be aware that in this country we have a taxation package that is unique to us.

Indeed, it is the overwhelming wish of the majority of UK citizens that we retain our position in this respect.

The road hauliers are pressing for a reduction of 15p per litre for diesel fuel. How they arrive at this figure, heaven only knows.

Suffice it to say, that it can only be offered at the expense of other and more worthy causes, eg the pensioners, the NHS, schools, or maybe even the unfortunate victims of the BSE debacle so grossly mismanaged by the Conservatives, who they so clearly support.

It was the last Tory government who introduced the fuel duty escalator and if they had been returned to power in May 1997, fuel would be even dearer than it is now.

And with their appalling record of financial mismanagement, there would not be a budget surplus. - Alan Benn, Bedale.

Spennymoor

I CAN inform Councillor Bill Waters (HAS, Oct 23) that Spennymoor Liberal Democrats will be sending their proposals for Spennymoor centre shops to the Sedgefield Borough Local Plan Review.

Our main proposals are: a) demolish the Festival Walk and the indoor market; we would like a covered shopping arcade which would reconnect the high street; b) build a new family pub/restaurant with car park; c) refurbish the High Street shop fronts; d) pedestrianise the main shopping area to safeguard public safety.

Spennymoor shopping centre has been in decline for several years. With the loss of thousands of manufacturing jobs, high council taxes/business rates/rents and out of town shopping being the main reasons. The £17,000 spent on the water fountain could have helped to finance the High Street shop fronts.

Other towns in the borough have had a considerable amount of money for updating their main shopping areas. It should now be Spennymoor's turn. - Councillor Ben Ord, Chairman, Spennymoor Liberal Democrats, Spennymoor.

RAILWAYS

AFTER the recent rail disaster it is difficult to understand why a length of track on a busy main line known to be suspect and well overdue for replacing did not warrant a speed limit imposing on it, especially being on a bend. Had there been one that track may well have lasted until replacement.

But had a tragedy occurred the reduced speed may well have avoided fatalities. One may well ask where does responsibility lie? - Douglas Punchard, Kirkbymoorside.

BAIL HOSTEL

I AM opposed to the proposed bail hostel in Chester-le-Street. It is difficult to believe that the council would even consider selling this land which is so much part of the Civic Centre for any purpose, let alone a bail house.

It is only recently that the Civic Centre was on TV being acclaimed for its architecture and design. It was compared to the Victorian town hall at South Shields.

To put another building so close would completely spoil the dramatic aspect of this building which in years to come would be viewed as an act of vandalism.

Any company wishing to site an office or factory in the town might have serious doubts about the judgement of an administration that puts a bail hostel in such close proximity to its head office. - John Tweddle, Chester-le-Street.