Letters

ARE we supposed to cheer because the French fishermen have called off their strike, or is it one more proof that the French respect no one but themselves?

Why does their government do nothing to stop them when our Government does everything it can to stop the British people from causing any inconvenience with their protests.

It is just one more reason why the people of this small island feel very nervous about being in the European Union with people who obviously do not care about anything but their own needs and desires.

Apart from draining our resources and hamstringing our business people with nonsensical laws - made up by invisible unelected people - it appears that they are doing covertly what they have been unable to do with numerous wars throughout the centuries, bring us to our knees. - B Tingate, Darlington.

IMMIGRATION

IN his recent letters on immigration, John Young makes a few unwarranted assumptions (HAS, Aug 3).

First, he implies that immigration leads to increased population. It doesn't, because more people emigrate.

Second, he seems to think the Government has an "open door" policy on immigration. There are some illegal immigrants of course, and international co-operation is needed on this, but the rules on legal immigration are strict. You have no chance of being allowed to stay in Britain unless you are closely related to a British citizen, you are a genuine refugee, or you are doing a job for which no British citizen can be recruited or are otherwise of significant benefit to the British economy.

This is why the Government actively encouraged West Indians to seek work here in the 1950s and why the Asian population of Bradford was originally recruited by the mill owners and why the NHS continues to rely heavily on immigrant doctors and nurses.

Finally, Mr Young should not be taken in by those who argue that people of different colours or cultures cannot or should not co-exist in harmony.

They can and they do, with no threat to anyone's cultural identity. - Pete Winstanley, Chester-le-Street.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

THANK you for reminding Darlington residents of the democratic deficit at the heart of their council following Tony Blair's reforms of local government (Echo, Aug 30).

The Prime Minister displays arrogance and contempt for the House of Commons by reducing his appearances to once a week. Ministers chose to give leaks to the Press rather suffer the scrutiny of MPs. The House of Lords is reduced to a House of Cronies. Powers over vast areas of our lives are being given to unelected bureaucrats in Brussels.

Alan Milbum has rightly been criticised for giving the Labour Party so many places on health authorities.

As a councillor of over 30 years, I have always honoured the obligations placed on me to represent my electors at the Town Hall. Under the new system this is becoming almost impossible. Decisions are taken behind closed doors by a cabal of Labour councillors. The Press cannot report on them, councillors have limited powers to scrutinise them and the opportunity to speak up at a council meetings has been severely curtailed.

Many people take no interest in these matters and allow Mr Blair to charm. But when the council takes a decision they don't like people will be right to express anger and outrage at the way their ability, through representatives like myself, to complain and change things has been deliberately destroyed in the name of New Labour. - Councillor Bill Stenson (Conservative), Darlington.

FLOODING

SINCE Easter 1998, 25 people have lost their lives as a result of flooding. Severe floods which hit many parts of England and Wales in 1999 prompted the Agency to commission an independent review of its flood warning service. The review concluded that the old system of colour coded warnings was confusing and widely misunderstood. As a result, a new flood warning system is being introduced this September following extensive research and consultation.

The new flood warning codes will give will give people a clear sense of what is likely to happen and what actions they can take to protect themselves and will be applied consistently throughout England and Wales. The new system has four stages - Flood Watch, Flood Warning, Severe Flood Warning and All Clear.

We will be running a major public information campaign - Flood Action Week (September 11-17) highlighting the dangers of flooding, providing advice on how people can help themselves, as well as promoting the new warning codes which go live on September 12.

Anyone who has had personal experience of a flood will know the misery it causes and how difficult it can be cope afterwards. While we cannot control the elements, we can make sure that people know if they are at risk and what to do. Flood Action Week is about recognising the risks and helping the nearly two million homes and businesses at risk be better prepared. - Ken Barton, Regional Flood Manager, Environment Agency.

FOUR ALLS

WHILE appreciating recent correspondents' desires to support the Four Alls, I cannot help but feel they have lost the plot.

It was the Four Alls, if my memory serves me correct, which declined to give Mike Amos the opportunity to sample the "second to none quality of food, staff and clientele", therefore giving a well-known and excellent journalist the golden chance to write a humorous and well-observed article with a difference. - Clive Sledger, Aldborough St John, Richmond.