SHOPPING CENTRE: During the past two years, I have called on Sedgefield Borough Council to include the Festival Walk Shopping Centre in Spennymoor in the Regeneration Package.

The paving is tatty and, in places, dangerous. The flat roofed, 1960s style shops along Festival Walk are the wrong design and, at the rear end, above the subway, I have reported water penetration.

In fact, the surrounding area requires a facelift. Originally, I asked for Festival Walk to be demolished and the High Street to be re-connected with a shopping arcade. I was informed that, because it was privately owned, this was not possible.

As a result of my later request that the shops regeneration should include new paving, a pitched roof and new street lighting, I was informed that negotiations were on-going with the Festival Walk shop owners. The contract should have included Festival Walk at the beginning, before the cosmetic improvement started.

I would like to thank the town centre manager for her efforts to improve the high street shop fronts. I would encourage shop owners who would like to improve their shop's appearance to ask the manager for more details of the new, more generous shop grants. - Councillor Ben Ord, Spennymoor.

BOB GELDOF

RE: Thomas Conlon (HAS, July 23). You are among the many cynical people that hinder wonderful people like Sir Bob Geldof from achieving a balanced and fair world.

If Sir Bob was intending to use Live8 to further his music career surely he would have mentioned his possible tour dates.

Or if he was attempting to self-promote, then you would think that during the hours he spent talking in an airport lounge on his way to Edinburgh, he would have mentioned himself once But no, he spoke purely about Africa and what we can do.

Some of the artists who performed have seen their sales rise, but they have given the profit to charity. If the cynics used half of the energy they waste trying to find holes in Sir Bob's plans to get on board and do as he is asking, then the world would be a much better place.

Also, to all those saying he should solve poverty among the elderly in his own country first, he isn't God; it isn't up to him to solve every problem.

He is voluntarily doing more than most by tackling one problem. We should follow his lead and solve these things ourselves, not condemn him for trying. Get a grip people. - Aysha Bowes, Bishop Auckland.

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

THE recent bombings have prompted understandable outrage and, understandably, that outrage seems to focus upon Islamic extremists, whereas, it seems to me, that serious attention should focus on anti-social behaviour on a much broader base.

For example: Why is it not possible for largely Christian white spectators to stand together in friendly rivalry at soccer matches? How deep is that hatred? Racial, sectarian 'walls' not only exist in Israel/Palestine or Belfast (a very Christian province) but also at every premier football match every week.

What is it that influences so many young people, raised in a Christian/democratic environment, who have all experienced, if not benefited from, ten years education (minimum) into violent yobs, binge drinkers and drug takers.

What is lacking in our society and in our culture that encourages the level of violence against old people, handicapped people, rape against both young women and old ladies?

Could the root of the problem rest in the lack of standards, blurred boundaries of right and wrong? Too many rights, few responsibilities. Could it be the extreme lack of respect for any form of authority in the family home or at school or at work?

Perhaps it is time to take a closer look at ourselves. The starting point might well be the family. The alternative to disciplined boundaries is anarchy. Are we heading in that direction? - W J Keast, Northallerton.

THE BIG CALL

RE: The Big Call, the quiz-type programme which invites the viewers to answer a simple question from a choice of three suggested answers.

A draw is then made from the correct answers and the person selected can win a substantial prize.

That evening I called the number given by the programme and offered my answer to the question as Balmoral. This answer was accepted as correct.

I was then asked to dial in my telephone number, which I did - no less than 12 times. After the first attempt at dialling I was informed by the male voice that I had submitted an invalid number. I dialled again very carefully, yet again I was informed that I had submitted an invalid number. I made at least ten further vain attempts.

It is worth mentioning that I have been listed with the number for a very long time during which there has not been any difficulty in my being contacted by other telephone users.

The given number I was required to call in with the answer to the question was a premium rate number.

After having failed to persuade the drone to accept my correct number I uttered a few choice profanities and terminated the call. - J Clark, Newton Aycliffe.

LOUD MUSIC

FOR those of us who are on nightshift or have been working away all week and just want to relax in our own back gardens, the last thing we want to hear is loud music from selfish neighbours who decide that listening to music in the confines of their own home is not good enough.

I live in the Leyburn Road area of Darlington and find that it only takes one person to decide to play it loud to invade the peace and quiet of at least 20 other houses in the near vicinity.

Parties are common with the speakers on full blast until the early hours of the morning but try to get someone to sort it and you are wasting your time.

Some councils have hit teams to deal with the problem there and then, but complaining to Darlington Council is a waste of time as you are told to collect data.

The sooner our council faces up to its obligations the quicker we can have a little peace in our own homes. - Name and address supplied.

THE FORUM

I AM pleased that Darlington's new music venue, The Forum, seems to be going from strength to strength.

The Forum is thankfully promoting all musical styles for local music lovers, ranging from punk to ska and from Indie to rock.

While Darlington may have one of the most splendid art centres in the UK, the venue only seems to hold blues or folk festivals, which is a shame as it could become one of the major small music venues in the north of England.

Darlington has played host to a number of top British acts over the years, including the likes of Bad Manners and the UK Subs, and we'll be working very hard to get these types of bands back in town .

Darlington needs a major music venue, and it seems that The Forum has become it. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.