19/09/05

They say it takes away the right of communities to have "locally focused health policies".

John Williams, of Darlington Council, called the move "ill considered". Whilst I definitely agree with the sentiment, this stance from the council and MP has no real commitment when they argue just the opposite when it comes to education. Both the council and Mr Milburn will not accept the argument that Hurworth Comprehensive School, providing education to the village communities around Darlington, is the people's locally-focused school.

The school, with their full "ill-considered" backing, is to be merged into an alien town culture at the new East Darlington site, which is surrounded by industry and busy roads.

Both the council and MP should accept the merger of the PCTs and Hurworth/Eastbourne schools, or they should oppose both mergers. They bring shame on themselves, and let down the whole community, if they do not practise what they preach on all issues. - Mark Anderson, Middleton St George.

SCHOOL TRANSPORT

DURING the General Election, Richmond (Yorkshire) Liberal Democrats submitted a petition on school transport to Ruth Kelly (Minister for Education) and Alistair Darling (Minister for Transport) regarding proposals to charge for school buses.

I wrote to this paper at that time promising to report back on any reply.

I have since had a response from the Department of Education and Skills in Darlington.

The response was very general, referring to statistics in the whole of North Yorkshire rather than the specifics of the constituency where many pupils have no option but to use the school buses.

The scenes of convoys outside the schools in Richmond are an example. The department noted the encouragement of alternatives like cycling to school, but for many in our area this is not an option.

Picture cycling home on a dark snowy night to rural Arkengarthdale from Richmond. Measurements were also made in a straight line and, for many pupils in the dales and on the moors, actual routes are much longer.

Liberal Democrats believe that state education should be free. Charging for essential school buses would seem to be a stealth tax on rural areas.

I have written to the department with our continued concerns. - Jacquie Bell, Parliamentary Spokesperson, Richmond (Yorkshire) Liberal Democrats.

BLOOD PRESSURE

FIVE million British adults are currently unaware that they have high blood pressure, so I am writing to let your readers know about an opportunity to find out their most vital statistic - their blood pressure numbers.

Every year the Blood Pressure Association (BPA), runs a national blood pressure testing week as part of its ongoing "Know Your Numbers!" campaign. The event sees thousands of specially set up Pressure Stations offering information and blood pressure checks to the public at locations including health centres, supermarkets, pharmacies and health clubs.

High blood pressure is serious - it is a major cause of heart disease and stroke - but it can be treated and sometimes prevented. The BPA is urging everyone to know their up-to-date blood pressure levels - if you can't pop along to a Pressure Station there are lots of places where you can get your blood pressure checked - many pharmacies, health clubs and workplaces (with an occupational health department) offer checks all year round. As well as knowing your numbers there are five simple steps we can all take: cut down on salt, eat more fruit and vegetables, take regular exercise, stick to a healthy weight, and keep alcohol intake to recommended limits.

To find out more, log on to www.bpassoc.org.uk - Nickie Roberts, Executive Director, Blood Pressure Association, London.

CRICKET HEROES

I HOPE that David Beckham and the other England football players take a long, hard look at our cricket heroes and gather some pride and passion the next time they represent our country.

I hope that Her Majesty acknowledges these gallant cricketers and knights them all. At last we can now say: Well done England. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.

LIKE the England rugby team of 2003, the England cricket team of 2005 has done the country proud.

As someone with little interest in cricket before this summer, I found myself impressed by the display of what can be regarded as traditional English qualities - fairplay and good sportsmanship.

Above all, however, is the level of skill, spirit and determination that the players showed throughout the series to give the country a much needed win over Australia.

One can only hope that the England football team, in support of which I have travelled thousands of miles at the cost of thousands of pounds, can follow the examples set by their cricket and rugby colleagues.

Recent performances have left the England football players looking overpaid, lethargic, dispirited, confused, image obsessed, and generally uninterested.

England expects that every team will do its duty. We live in hope. - Jamie Mash, Northallerton.

GAME SHOOTING

LABOUR'S Rural Affairs Minister, Jim Knight, has given his backing to shooting, saying that the Government values "its contribution to environmental protection and land management".

Game shooting generates millions of pounds for rural communities and a huge amount of unpaid conservation work is put in to manage and maintain the countryside by people who shoot - conservation work which has won praise from organisations such as English Nature.

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) Green Shoots programme brings together the managers of shooting land, local wildlife trusts and other interested bodies, who work together to improve the number and quality of habitats for plants and animals in the countryside.

Woods, hedges and wetland managed for game provide vital habitat for many other species and the RSPB and Game Conservancy Trust recently reported that declining species such as skylark, corn bunting and lapwing are five times more abundant on land that is managed for shooting than elsewhere.

Game is shot for the pot and is a wild and natural source of food. Keep an eye out for it this winter at your local game dealer and in your supermarket. - Helen Shuker, BASC, Wrexham.

ZARA PHILLIPS

WOULD you please tell me why Great Britain's team gold and individual gold and silver medals at the European Eventing championships at Blenheim did not get a mention in The Northern Echo?

As Zara Phillips was a team member and individual gold medal winner, I would have thought this would have deserved a mention. - C Sunter, Ferryhill.