03/09/05

Any power which they do produce only duplicates and does not replace that which is produced by conventional means, and at increased cost.

Also, they do not help in any way to combat global warming by reducing carbon dioxide emissions which, in the UK, are continuing to increase.

In fact, their contribution in this area is the same as that of the Angel of the North. - J Routledge, Durham.

DISABLED PARKING

I AM disabled and have great difficulty walking. I shop in Bishop Auckland. I can't understand why there is no disabled parking between noon and 4pm and also the one-hour restriction.

Newgate Street is a long street and businesses are very helpful to disabled people with wheelchairs.

It takes them ten minutes to assemble and disassemble their chairs.

One day last week I came into Bishop Auckland at 9.20am. The disabled bays were, in the main, used by other vehicles, ie window cleaners, builders' vans, security vans, people parked in disabled days with no blue badges.

The one-hour stay is not long enough and I would suggest a time of one and a half hours, also the noon to 4pm should be lifted even if it was for the access from the Burton's shop corner only.

Please make Bishop Auckland a more friendly place to shop for the disabled and help with the parking in Newgate Street. - James Smith, Crook.

WELL DONE

I FEEL obliged to put pen to paper to sing the praises of the captain and players of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

On Tuesday, August 23 they played a friendly match at Cloughton Cricket Club to raise funds for Scarborough's local hospice, St Catherine's.

This, the day before they were due to commence replaying a very important four-day game against Durham Cricket Club at Scarborough.

Due to their commitments around this time, the players were only likely to get a couple of days break in about three weeks of cricket and it would have been understandable if only a skeleton squad had turned out.

It shows the players' support for Craig White, the captain who lives in Cloughton village, that a full first team squad appeared at the game. Their whole attitude to the way the game was played and their demeanour with the fans (especially the youngsters) was a joy to see and a credit to the Yorkshire club.

They played against a Mick Readman XI, which Craig White captained against his team mates. I know it made Mick very proud to see his two sons play against his beloved Yorkshire on the ground where he played for 50 years and looked after for many as groundsman.

In this day and age when professional sportsman have a reputation for being selfish and only interested in their own financial gain, it is a breath of fresh air to witness the selfless behaviour of the Yorkshire players. I don't know at this time how much cash was raised at the game but it certainly runs into the region of £6,000.

Best of luck to the Yorkshire side in their bid for promotion because, just on the basis of this one performance, they deserve all the success that may come their way. - Eric Chadwick, Scarborough.

POOR SERVICE

THE senior citizens of this area are disgusted and very angry at how we have been treated by Arriva bus services.

I have been travelling to Newcastle for 44 years, enjoying my visits to Eldon Square and St Mary's RC Cathedral.

Now I cannot even get a bus from Vane Road in Newton Aycliffe to Chilton cemetery unless I walk from Rushyford - two miles. My husband died a year ago.

I am so upset about it all. The 92 bus was taken from us and that was the only bus to Bishop Auckland.

I went to County Hall in Durham with a 1,000-name petition. There are two 91 services round Neville Parade to Bishop Auckland and Darlington. Why could we not have one round Vane Road?

Please could Arriva try to give us one 723 bus once an hour?

On August 18, I went to Sunderland on the 213, hoping to see the transport officer but was told she had moved to Peterlee. It took two and a quarter hours - never again. - J Freeburn, Newton Aycliffe.

BUS STATION

A RECENT visit to Durham (always a pleasure) is even better now the bus station has been refurbished.

Darlington should follow this example and give the town something it has been lacking for a long time. - D Irvine, Newton Aycliffe.

With regard to Darlington's new town centre, it should have been possible for the Victorian features to have been retained, since so many people wanted them to stay. The fountain may look splendid but the Saturday night drunks will soon be taking a shower in it.

The lack of a bus station has caused a great deal of unhappiness. The old bus station could be rebuilt and renovated with two or three stories, since the present one is too small.

It is rumoured that Tesco would like to acquire some land in Feethams and, in return, they would be willing to build a new town hall, which is unnecessary.

The council needs to ask the people of Darlington before it makes such drastic changes. - VM Smith, Darlington.

CAR BOOT SALES

THE article (Echo, Aug 28) correctly announces MP John Whittingdale's intention to introduce legislation to crack down on the abuse of car boot sales by criminal gangs selling fake and sometimes dangerous counterfeit goods.

It is wrong, however, to suggest that individual traders will in future have to register 21 days in advance to attend a sale. In fact, under the legislation, only market organisers will be required to notify the local council of their intention to host a sale no less than 21 days in advance - a far from onerous requirement given how profitable such sales can be.

Traders will continue as now to be able to turn up on the day, give the organiser their name, address and vehicle registration and start selling. As a result, there will be no additional burden on individual traders. Only those with something to hide need fear anything from this legislation as there will be strict penalties for providing false information. - Ruth Orchard, Director General, The Anti-Counterfeiting Group.

PAVEMENT PARKING

WILL someone please explain? Has there been a new law passed to allow cars to park half on the pavement and half on the road?

I thought the ruling was cars on the road, pedestrians on the pavement. It is quite a performance, especially for prams and wheelchairs.

I also am amazed at the number of cyclists who ride in the middle of the pavements. Not little toddlers, but teenagers. If they are old enough to cycle they are certainly old enough to use the roads. Or maybe walkers should walk in the middle in the road. - FW Bennett, Northallerton.