BUS CHANGES - In recent weeks there have been letters complaining about the Arriva bus services and, as far as the people who use the 50 Dere Park service in County Durham are concerned, the Arriva coach company just doesn't want to know about any complaints.

Our route was altered quite a while back, even though there were well attended meetings with Arriva and the council protesting about it and the inconvenience caused.

The route now is impossible for residents to get to Meadowfield without taking two buses and two buses to return home. We can get to the doctors on Sawmill Lane but to get a bus back home, the bus stop is a long uphill walk which is impossible, so once again two buses to get home.

We also have difficulty getting to the library or post office.

It was suggested Arriva routed the Crook Durham bus round Scripton Gill Road, along Lowland Road and into Meadowfield, which would put about seven minutes on the journey. The answer I got on writing to Arriva was that it would mean more buses and drivers.

This change of bus route has not only affected the Dere Park residents but also Brandon Village and Brandon Colliery.

Posters say leave your car at home and get public transport. Even people without cars can't get where they want to go so it's advisable not to leave your cars at home. - M Drenon, Brandon.

I HAVE read quite a few complaints on your letters page about the change in Arriva bus services.

I have played the organ for 60 years at Spennymoor and now there is no bus service at all on Sundays and never after 5.30pm during the week.

We have never in my lifetime had such a poor bus service. It seems they get to the old people every time because they can't afford taxis.

Having anyone a patient in Bishop Auckland Hospital it is just impossible to get there to see them.

Arriva is the worst bus company this district has ever known. There are two or three buses from Ferryhill to Spennymoor, yet none from Coxhoe and Cornforth. It is time now to do some rearranging. - JE Wilson, West Cornforth.

POLICEMAN'S LOT

DID you see police chief Sir Ian Blair (Echo, Aug 23) clearly under stress, criticised for doing his job?

Our country is in a sorry state. Who wants to be a policeman?

All those drunken yobs spitting in your face and calling you foul names. The police are not allowed to hit anyone because he has the "human right" to do it.

Then there are the terrorists to deal with, animal "righters", who have now graduated to bodysnatching,

There is a murder almost every day and children are not safe even when taken to school by their parents

It's time we took the handcuffs off our policemen so they can bring some law and order back to our streets and maybe get some job satisfaction.

What will happen when they've had enough and possibly go on strike? - Irene Littlejohns, Tow Law.

MINING HERITAGE

IT was with great interest that I read the comments on the proposed Sky Bowl (HAS, Aug 23).

The Sky Bowl proposal for Aykley Heads demonstrates an aspiration for County Durham positively to embrace change in the 21st century and develop its profile nationally and internationally. This is an important message for our young people and for companies looking for an area in which to invest and grow.

Durham County Council is highly aware of its rich and valuable mining heritage and I am pleased to say that County Hall does have a tribute to the county's mining past. This is in the form of the beautiful stained glass panels that are located in heart of County Hall in the Durham Room and were commissioned in 1995 and record all the collieries operating on Vesting Day 1947.

Durham's mining heritage is also a living one of the ex-miners and their families. It is of the people and in the traditions that the county is supporting and helping keep alive. Across the whole of the county ex-colliery brass bands receive direct help and looking to the future workshops are organised for young brass musicians.

The council works with the NUM on the Big Meeting and developing the day as a showcase for County Durham, so the event has a sustainable future. Supporting groups throughout the county restoring lodge banners and, in several instances, initiating new banners.

It is crucial that we respect our past, that we are true to the present and that we support development of a bright future for our young people and ourselves. The Sky Bowl can be seen in this context and as one part of a larger picture. - Councillor George Porter, Chilton.

PRISON IDEA

AS insurance companies, banks, call centres, etc are all outsourcing to countries like India and the Eastern bloc, why is it that with our prisons being so overcrowded, we don't outsource prisoners to these places?

It would be much cheaper and would solve the overcrowding in our prisons without the need to build costly new ones.

It would maybe make the criminals think twice about the lifestyle they have chosen to live. Just a thought. - Ed Southgate, Stockton.

NAKED COUPLE

I HAVE been a reader of The Northern Echo for many years, but was most annoyed on seeing (Echo, Aug 17) the photograph of two people who have nothing better to do than walk about with no clothes on.

This guy was in court many times in 2004 when he should have been locked up and the key thrown away, but he got off each time.

Now here we are in 2005 and he is doing it again along with his girlfriend.

The Northern Echo should think about the number of children who read the paper, also if people get their photo in the paper for doing such a thing we will have more stupid people doing the same just to get into the newspapers.

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