15/08/05

Putting toy guns into the hands of children so they can 'play' at killing is sheer stupidity. All toy weapons should, in my opinion, be banned. Our children should never be encouraged or allowed to play at killing.

Some will say that youngsters, especially boys, will play aggressively anyway.

Sadly, this is true. However, removing toy weapons, especially those that fire missiles, would be a step towards reducing the aggression. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

SERVICE 723

THE quantity and quality of bus services to the Vane Road area of Newton Aycliffe has got progressively worse during Arriva's era as the company has systematically changed routes through this part of the town.

Recently it took a 'commercial decision' (the term used by one of their managers I telephoned) to alter the route taken by service 723.

It now operates via another area of Aycliffe/Woodham and means that my 70-year-old mother, her elderly friends and everyone else living in East Aycliffe, face a long walk to get a bus.

Arriva hardly advertised this move - knowing from past experiences when it removed service 92 from our part of Aycliffe - that people would not be happy. But it seems it can do what it wants and has no regrets about letting down passengers who have used a service for over 40 years.

The Transport Act 2000 sets out a stronger role for local authorities in the future, working in partnership with operators to influence all aspects of bus provision - we either have a toothless county council transport section or it appears 'partnership' with Arriva is a little too cosy.

It's strange how Labour strongholds such as Ferryhill, Chilton and Bishop Auckland seem to have such relatively good bus services compared to us. - Dr Donald Simpson, Newton Aycliffe.

GARDEN COMPLAINT

AT what point will Redcar and Cleveland's Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Independent "coalition" council admit it has slashed services for pensioners?

Take, for instance, the complete removal of the free garden cutting service, which previously helped the most vulnerable in the community to get their grass cut and hedges trimmed. Now, under this coalition, pensioners have to pay for it.

We have seen the cost of bus passes increase above inflation, bus ticket prices rise above inflation and pensioners' security provisions slashed.

All due to the coalition's policy decisions. Can councillors justify this? - Kevin Popper, Redcar.

RIGHT ROAD

P Webb (HAS, Aug 2) asks how I can maintain that Darlington's roads have improved dramatically over the past few years?

The answer is that the facts speak for themselves. Each year the road network across the country is assessed against rigorous Government standards. When Darlington became a unitary authority in 1997, our roads were among some of the worst in the country.

After eight years of targeted investment, we are recognised as having some of the best in Britain. These figures are independently checked by the Audit Commission.

This has led not only to better driving conditions, but has also significantly reduced the number of successful highway insurance claims against the council.

Darlington's Labour Council is not prepared to sit back on its laurels, however. I know that remaining problems with the state of the roads is one issue that really annoys local people. Consequently, the council is about to invest £2.5m extra over the next two years to tackle some of the worst potholed roads, cracked pavements and churned verges.

We believe that people in the borough know where the real highway difficulties are, and I would urge readers to respond to the leaflet with this month's Town Crier if they know of a problem that needs sorting. - Councillor Nick Wallis, Cabinet Member, Highways and Transport, Darlington Borough Council.

KATRINA ROBINSON

I AM fed up with hearing that Katrina Robinson (Echo, Aug 3) has been treated unfairly.

Nobody seems to mention the fact that she had been jailed for assaulting a 16-year-old girl.

Yes, it is tragic that she has lost her baby and her sadness will be overwhelming, but this doesn't take away the fact that she had committed a crime and had been jailed for it.

Once again a criminal is being made out to be a victim. - G Jayne, Belmont.

TRADITION

I'M white, but I don't give two hoots about skin colour. I'm Catholic with no bad feelings for other religions.

I'm married and straight, and while I think this the 'best' way to form a family, I'm happy that others can build happiness from other relationships.

I think border control and immigration is a complete mess, but this is not the same as being racist.

What I can't accept is that we should, since the recent terrorist atrocities, retreat to a position that is not tolerant and not British by tradition.

We should judge on simple grounds: those who abide by the British rule of law and those who do not.

Times may have moved on, but Commonwealth troops fought with distinction in the Far East, and Asian names adorn the Menin Gate in Ypres. The suggestion in some quarters that Muslims have no loyalty to Britain is historically untrue. - Jim Tague, Bishop Auckland Conservatives.

COUNCIL INVITATION

SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD Alistair Carter's first impression of local democracy at work was not a positive one (HAS, Aug 4).

I suspect the fact that the cause he was supporting here at County Hall 'lost the vote' may have coloured his judgement somewhat.

Clearly though, he is an intelligent young man, interested in the workings of local government and local democracy, and someone who I am sure would not wish to base his views solely on his one and only experience of such matters.

Should he wish to visit County Hall again, this time with no vested interests or personal axe to grind, and 'shadow' me for a day, he may be able to form a more accurate and measured impression of the work that elected members of the council and its committees do.

I would therefore like to invite Alistair to contact me at County Hall so that we can arrange such a visit.

The Greek philosopher Plato said: "The price good men pay for not being in politics is to be governed by people less able than themselves."

If, sadly, this is a view to which Alistair subscribes, he may also wish to begin to put matters right by involving himself in the very active Durham Children and Young People's Council, which gives youngsters the chance to voice their opinions and make changes in issues that affect them.

Details are available on their website at www.dcypc.org.uk. - Councillor Sonny Douthwaite, Chairman Highways Committee, Durham County Council.