26/07/05

Farmers have just gone through hell in the Government's haste to implement the latest Common Agriculture Policy reforms, which other EU countries will do when it suits them.

These reforms encourage farmers to focus on looking after the environment, but support is no longer linked to food production, which is likely to deplete home grown food production even further.

The CAP, having been designed to keep French farmers in employment, has always been a mess, often to British farmers' detriment as French farmers received six times more payment for rural development than the UK and every petty EU regulation was gold plated no matter what the cost to our farmers.

Now, after all the years of no dissent about CAP, pandering to everything European and just agreeing with other EU leaders that the new system would operate until 2013, Mr Blair sees it expedient to negotiate away our rebate in return for a further shake up of the EU budget.

In this ever more volatile world, our interests would be better served by seeking long-term food security through maintaining the fabric of British farming, than exposing it to the current whim of our leaders' contortions. - John Heslop, Darlington

CHURCH SHOCK

I WAS recently walking around St Andrew's churchyard in Darlington, which is the oldest chapel in town.

While walking around this beautiful historic biblical building, I saw what could only by described as a ghost!

While many may laugh at my sighting, I can assure you all that I was sober at the time and not feeling tired when I saw this spectre.

It was a figure of a man wearing a top hat, and I am wondering if anyone else has spotted him while enjoying the splendour of St Andrew's on Haughton Green?

This sighting took place during the afternoon of July 19 in daylight and I will be happy to know if the church has any history of hauntings, as I for one, was completely scared out of my wits. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington

ARRIVA BUSES

I WOULD like to respond to recent comments made relating to Arriva and the 235 Service (HAS, July 22).

Your correspondent's suggestion that Arriva is "not interested in customers" is completely untrue and does not reflect the hard work and dedication put in by our employees across the region.

Arriva is committed to delivering a better service, and is making substantial efforts to achieve this. For example, on July 29 Arriva is unveiling a £3m investment - which brings 27 brand new vehicles into service on the same day, improves our engineering and maintenance facilities, and allows us to offer more accessible services for our customers in and around Durham.

The 235 service is being withdrawn because it is replaced along most of its journey by service 55. From Kelloe, Mrs Staff can still travel on the 57 service (two buses per hour) direct to Durham, or can change at Coxhoe to go to Trimdon or Stockton.

So that customers don't pay more by having to change services we have ensured that through ticketing is in place for these journeys.

The X1 service continues to offer direct links from Durham to Stockton. Our monitoring shows that only one person on average made the journey from Kelloe to Stockton each day.

Anyone who would like more information about Arriva's bus services can contact us direct to discuss transport links and ticketing options on 08701 201088, or visit the website : www.arrivabus.co.uk

I hope this clarifies matters for your readers and our customers. - Liz Esnouf, Commercial Director, Arriva North East

LONDON BOMBS

THE bombers who perpetrated the terrorist outrage on innocent Londoners were not trying to change our way of life, as Tony Blair disingenuously suggested, but rather our foreign policy.

The attacks were inexcusable, but not inexplicable.

Osama bin Laden's past statements indicate that Britain became a target for him only because of UK backing for America's invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Tony Blair's misguided support of George W Bush's illegal and immoral wars brought this tragedy upon us and we will never enjoy security until that policy is reversed.

It took America thousands of dead before they realised the Vietnam war could not be won. How long will it take Britain in Iraq? - James Fitzpatrick, Gateshead

SCRAPYARD BLAZE

UNFORTUNATELY it was no surprise this morning (July 22) to open the curtains to another pall of smoke over Albert Hill.

Regular fires like this in the chemical industry would have factory inspectors and the Environment Agency issuing improvement notices or closing plants down.

Why does this town continue to condone such operations so close to residential areas? - Gordon Mitchell, Darlington

ROYAL MAIL

I COULD not agree more with E Morgan (HAS, July 20) about the terrible service we are getting from Royal Mail.

I have had items posted in Darlington take over a week to arrive at Ormesby, some never getting here at all.

Yet the much-maligned US Postal service managed to get a postcard from Anchorage, Alaska, to Ormesby in only five days - and the cost of postage was 74 US cents (about 43p). - Kenneth Stoves, Middlesbrough

POVERTY

WE are at an important point in history. For decades poverty has been associated with Africa, the visible signs of hunger and disease, with the rampant spread of Aids.

Africa has also been associated with dictatorship, the oppression of the people contrasted with the wealth and power of self-made politicians and leaders. Attempts to increase aid and to eliminate millions of pounds of debt has brought with it scepticism. Would the starving millions actually receive any direct help to alleviate their suffering?

So what is different in 2005? After all, 20 years ago the focus on poverty in Africa by Live Aid brought in millions of pounds but this great effort failed to ensure that aid was directed to where the need was.

Now the movement for change has impetus. In many ways it reflects a reassessment of values. The focus on justice and in mobilising the minds of G8 leaders has gathered momentum with a number of Live 8 concerts around the world constantly promoting the theme.

There is also something different about attitudes; charity is one thing but mobilising world leaders to a common goal is another. Hopefully, there is recognition of the need to change and, as Gordon Brown suggested recently, a need to commit to making poverty history, but this requires sustained effort.

For the moment it is about not being complacent; G8 has made a start but the momentum must continue. - Name and address supplied.