20/08/05

I notice that there is no mention of Postwatch, the independent consumer watchdog for postal services. Postwatch acts as the voice of the consumer to ensure they get the best possible service from all licensed postal operators.

Postwatch Northern England dealt with around 7,500 complaint cases last year from members of the public and business users. We helped to obtain a total of over £50,000 in compensation for those who came to us.

If customers have a postal problem they should complain first to the relevant part of the Royal Mail Group or other relevant licensed postal provider. If customers are unhappy with the response, then Postwatch can help.

If you want more information about Postwatch you can call us on 08456 013265 or alternatively visit our website at www.postwatch.co.uk. You can also write to us at Postwatch Northern England, Devere House, Vicar Lane, Little Germany, Bradford BD1 5AH. - Judith Donovan CBE, Regional Chairman, Postwatch Northern England.

WEEKEND DRINKING

I WAS somewhat bemused by Helen Cannam's contention (Echo, Aug 18) that Durham on a Friday night is fast becoming a place where anyone who is not drunk feels excluded.

As a regular drinker in Durham on weekend nights in the mid 1970s to mid 1980s, I can assure her that it was exactly the same then, albeit with maybe fewer people about, as there were fewer outlets for drinking back then.

I experienced Durham bus station, not having had a drink, one Friday night in 1983 and admit the impression it gave me was akin to going to the zoo, but it is little different today.

As for extended opening hours, Helen's stance completely misses the point. The population in general only have a limited disposable income, and also have work commitments. Consequently, the only result of extended licensing will be a 'reorganisation' rather than larger intake of alcohol.

Those who argue against the restructuring of the law regarding opening hours bring up spurious arguments: people are already at liberty to drink round the clock if they wish, albeit not currently within licensed premises. Back in the days of 11am-3pm opening hours, Durham riverbank was littered with people drinking lager as they waited for the pubs to re-open.

Also, having regularly visited Holland, Belgium and Germany, I would suggest that it is not only the British who behave in the manner that Helen so much decries. - John Milburn, Chester-le-Street.

NUDE VIEWS

I WOULD like to congratulate The Northern Echo on being brave and sensible enough to publish a photograph of the naked ramblers, Melanie Roberts and Stephen Gough (Echo, August 17).

Regretfully, we still have a small number of prudes in our society who always seem to complain if nudity is on parade in any form.

The human body is a beautiful thing, and I for one will not complain if The Northern Echo continues to publish photographs of naked women on its pages.

A big well done to the editor for allowing nudity to be rightly shown and covered in these modern times. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.

I HAVE been a reader of your paper for many years and was most annoyed to see the two photographs of the couple who have nothing better to do than walk about with no clothes on.

This guy was in court many times last year and should have been locked up, but he got let off each time.

Now we are in 2005 and he is doing it again with his girlfriend. The Northern Echo should think about the number of children who read your paper. Also, if people get their photo in the paper for doing such a thing, we will have more people doing the same just to get publicity.

Come on The Northern Echo, there are better things to print than smut like this. - Name and address supplied.

MULTI-CULTURES

TO be alive does not always equate with living. Living life to the full, reaching one's potential and seeking a better quality of life are aspirations we all seek, don't we?

Cast your eyes across the shopping arcades, the pubs and clubs or on street corners and bus stops. Some people barely exist. Their horizons are narrow, dimmed by low expectation and influenced by family and life experience.

How often do we hear of people who rarely leave their closeted communities, let alone travel by plane to some far off destination? We appear to be a more travelled race but there are many of us whose influences are inhaled from a homophobic existence casting a cloud of contentment yet reluctant to change.

It is not just people who feel inclined to stay put in their comfort zone, many organisations will portray a banner of change and innovation, the reality being they 'talk the talk' but rarely walk. Recalling the British Rail slogan "We're getting there!" speaks volumes.

For those of us who do travel, our bodies might transform from a British town or city to a Spanish beach but our minds remain locked in a British culture. We expect others to follow our culture and lifestyle, yet when Muslims appear isolated in their devotion to Islam we see that as an affront to British society.

A prominent politician remarked recently that multi-cultural Britain was failing and he called on Muslims to integrate more. I think they need to but so indeed must the white British. For multi-cultural Britain to succeed then there has to be an opening of minds. - Bernie Walsh, Coxhoe.

NIGER CRISIS

I REFER to the article on the food crisis in Niger (Echo, Aug 10) in which you quote the Disasters Emergency Committee's statement that "£100 will keep ten milking cows alive for six weeks".

I am concerned that the continuing drought this year and the likelihood of drought in future years will lead to the slow death by starvation of these cows, which will have ceased to produce milk long before that stage is reached.

Cattle not only need to eat grass, which requires water to enable it to grow, but need to drink large amounts of water, water which could be better used by humans both for drinking and for growing crops. Crops eaten by humans direct provide more calories than those eaten by cattle and processed by their bodies to produce milk and meat, neither of which is essential for health.

Readers wishing to ensure that their donations are used to provide food aid that will not lead to further desertification and the unnecessary suffering of animals can do so through Vegfam (The Sanctuary, Lydford, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 4AL, tel. 01822 820203) or HIPPO (The Old Vicarage, Llangynog, Camarthenshire, SA33 5BS, tel. 01267 241547), preferaby using Gift Aid. - Patricia Tricker, Vegan Society Local Contacts' Co-ordinator, Bedale, N. Yorkshire.