17/08/05

Why, otherwise, do I receive so much correspondence (even from official sources) addressed to Cleveland? Why do boundary signs give County Durham's southern boundary, not at the Tees, but in open country?

Why did last week's D&S Times refer to Greatham, Cleveland, and why does The Northern Echo persistently talk about Teesside and Tees Valley, which are neither counties nor local government areas?

Can it be that the real purpose behind these changes is to destroy any loyalty to our real counties and replace it with a relationship with spurious regions? - Peter W Elliott, Eaglescliffe.

JOHN McCRIRICK

WELL said that man, John McCririck, for having the courage to say what he did at Robin Cook's funeral.

It is an absolute disgrace that our leader, the MP for Sedgefield, chose not to attend Robin's funeral. Many very important people had altered their arrangements to attend.

Robin Cook had given many years of loyal service to New Labour and no doubt Tony is still miffed about the stinging criticism Robin uttered over Iraq.

In my view, Robin will eventually be proved right over Iraq in that it will be a nursery for terrorists and that our country will suffer the consequences for many years to come.

The premium of respect in the country, and perhaps in the Cabinet, that Tony Blair still holds is eroding fast. John has, I feel, articulated the thoughts of the common man and woman of this land. - Peter Hill, School Aycliffe.

WAITROSE SUPERMARKET

RE Waitrose (Echo, Aug 12) I should like to set the mind of the Rt Hon Roberta Blackman-Woods at rest.

Before moving to the North-East, I was a customer of Waitrose in Bracknell, Berkshire for 20 years.

I can assure her that many of the customers of that branch were OAPs and other low-income people living in council accommodation.

I'm sure they didn't feel Waitrose was merely aiming at the high end of the market or they would have gone to the nearby Sainsbury's. - Derek Thornton, Stanley, Crook.

BUS CHANGES

HOW can Liz Esnouf, commercial director of Arriva buses, state that the company is committed to customers (HAS, Aug 6) when they keep taking buses off and making travellers' lives a misery?

The 723 bus from Darlington to Durham has been taken off the route it has run for years, so we have gone from two buses an hour to one.

All they have done is change the routes of the 723 & 213. Where is the logic in this?

Come on Liz Esnouf, get out a bit and see what is going on in the North-East with your wonderful buses.

Also, can you please tell me why there was no publicity about the change of buses and times? - Mrs P Johnson, Newton Aycliffe.

WOK OF THE NORTH

I AM writing to you on behalf of the Brandon Heritage Group with concerns over the forthcoming sculpture (Echo, July 28) to overshadow the skyline of County Durham.

As a member of a heritage group, the siting of a modern sculpture with the idea of bringing tourists to the County of Durham perplexes me.

Surely, a just and fitting celebration of the history and heritage of the North-East area would be a sculpture of meaning. A sculpture showing one of our main industries - coal.

A suitable sculpture with modern overtones but created with a mining link would surely bridge the gap between the past to the future and would mean more to the people of Durham - predominantly coal workers and families of coal workers - than any modern sculpture, which I'm sure would make people feel alienated from their home city.

A fitting sculpture, the cost of which still has not been determined, would be something similar to Brian Brown's sculpture at Redhill.

Surely the people of Durham should be consulted before an artist is commissioned?

The cathedral has been the sentinel of the city for almost 1,000 years and was built on coal. If the skyline has to be clouded by a piece of art then let it be Durham art by Durham people for Durham people.

Durham has recently been voted the 'soulless city' and if the Arts Panel and our council decides to go ahead with this new soul-destroying exercise, then all I can say is St Cuthbert will turn in his grave. - Keith Hutchinson (son of a Durham mining family) Brandon.

HORSE RIDING

I WAS fully behind J Atkinson's letter re horse riding until she made one crass comment (HAS, Aug 10).

I have ridden for half my life and always wear high visibility clothing on both my horse and myself.

But some riders don't. Whether summer or winter, daylight or dusk, you should wear high visibility garments.

Riders also are not acknowledging correct considerate driving or riding themselves. It takes two minutes to take your hand off the reins and say thank you.

Nor do you ride two or three abreast in order to hold a conversation. Two abreast means the inside rider has a problem or is on a horse new to roads and needs support.

The comment that 'riders think they own the roads' got my back up. I don't think that. But I don't trust drivers. I've been shouted at, intimidated and often cars get so close that my stirrup has clipped their mirrors.

There is a reason why you pass wide and slow. Horses legally have a carriage width of six feet, but also, a horse can weigh half a ton and can crush a small hatchback car.

The horse was on the roads first and never asked to be there. Pass wide and slow, if not for the rider's sake then for the horse's, the innocent victims of accidents. - H North, Darlington.

HUMPTY BUMPTY

I WONDER when Darlington Council will invite Channel 4's Time Team to investigate the lumps and bumps that have appeared on the ground this summer in Cockerton.

There are two sets of markings similar to an Iron Age round house, with central hearth, two lumps that look like barrows with the tops ploughed off, some smaller lumps and red lines.

Seriously, I think a 20mph speed limit with the speed visor instrument that publicly records the vehicle's speed should have been tried first at these school sites, before such obstacles were built.

The mini roundabouts on Newton Lane are dangerous: they are offset and to go correctly round the one at the junction of Eggleston View, one has to drive into Eggleston View to remain on Newton Lane.

I saw a small police van carrying out a 180 degree turn. It had to stop and reverse part way round the roundabout.

Roundabouts were designed to improve the flow of traffic. These in Newton Lane are to hinder the flow, and are a distraction. - Norman Crockit, Darlington.