15/10/02

I remember with affectionate memories and much gratitude the wonderful care we Barnado's children received. The lovely mansion-like homes set in beautiful grounds. The friendship and close companionship of other resident children.

Although the discipline was quite strict, we were taught right from wrong. We also had a Christian upbringing that I realise now has given me strength to face up to all of life's experiences.

Although some parts of his work are still being carried out, such as Care in the Community and After Care for young teenagers etc, because of modern ideas and political correctness, it must seem like a minefield with suffocating regulations and the complicated changes in family life today. A wonderful strong institution has not been lost - like so many really good things that are no more. - J Lawler, Newton Aycliffe.

FLY THE FLAG

IT is right to fly the European Union circle of stars together with the Union flag (HAS, Oct 8).

Britain has always been European - we can hardly claim to belong to any other continent.

We have been a member of the EU since it was founded in 1993, and previously joined the European Economic Community in 1973.

The achievements of these organisations in maintaining peace in western and central Europe have been spectacular.

There will be no more wars with Germany and our relations with former Iron Curtain countries have become friendly. If a common defence policy had been enforced, we would not have been dragged by the US into the Iraq conflict, which was clearly ill-conceived.

It hardly matters that the EU written constitution is in dispute: the UK never had one at all. Opposition to European harmony is Luddite. - Dr Malcolm C Bateson, Bishop Auckland.

HOWDEN ALLOTMENTS

THE abandonment of crops by some gardeners on Howden-le-Wear Allotments (HAS, Oct 6) is not due to loss of interest, but more through a fear of strong-arm removal tactics by the current landowners.

Given the opportunity, the gardeners will tend their plots as religiously as before, as some continue to do so now, despite the depressing circumstances.

Although Durham County Council has offered the option of possible development instead on adjacent reclaimed land, the developers seem intent upon the destruction of a greenfield site that is also fertile growing land, a public amenity and is recognised by several local environmental organisations as being rich wildlife habitat.

It is therefore to be hoped that the planning authority, Wear Valley District Council, will fulfil its duty to protect the health, welfare and beneficial surroundings of their residents. - A Paciorek, Howden-le-Wear.

I AM pleased to hear that the Liberal Democrat candidate for Howden has visited the ward to see the allotments. I agree that the allotments are an important community facility that no-one wants to lose.

The decision to sell the land was made by a private landlord, not the district council.

However, Wear Valley District Council has been working hard to find a long-term solution to the problem. This includes attempting to find an alternative site for the allotments. I also want to see a vibrant community. I have a vested interest as I actually live in the village. - Jay Smith, Labour candidate, Howden-le-Wear Ward.

AIRPORT NAME

ME Harris has fallen into his own trap (HAS, Oct 6). He has forgotten that Darlington is the name of the borough as well as the town.

His map-reading friends can forget looking for Cleveland - Cleveland County was abolished in 1996.

They will also find that the airport is in neither County Durham nor North Yorkshire. Apart from a few metres of the approach to one of the runways, the airport is squarely in Darlington.

Tees Valley is merely a term thought up by a quango, set up in the wake of Margaret Thatcher's infamous Walk in the Wilderness, in its final throes of existence.

The loosely defined area to which it relates is certainly not a valley. That name would be more appropriate for the area abounding the upper reaches of the river, as in Tyne Valley, Wear Valley, etc.

As the areas downstream are more commonly known as Tyneside, Wearside, etc, this area could more appropriately known as Teesside (now that sounds familiar).

As the airport in Darlington serves the industries, commerce and communities on both sides of the River Tees, a simple solution would be for the manager at the airport to take down the sign above the entrance door and reveal its proper name, Teesside International Airport, the name by which it is known all over the world. - IB Wade, Darlington.

HUNTING BIRDS

IT seems the South Durham Hunt is to use an eagle owl to kill foxes which are flushed out (Echo, Oct 6) in order to show the Hunting Act is ridiculous.

Dogs can be used to flush quarry to birds of prey in falconry, but it is illegal in fox hunting.

Not only is it dangerous if pet dogs, cats and small animals are in the vicinity, if a bird of prey is holding down a fox, hounds will surely attack it.

I would be very concerned if I owned any bird, some are very expensive, when hounds want a kill. - Name and address supplied.

POLICE MERGERS

The Chief Constable of Durham should not now, on the eve of his retirement, give his views on the future of the police service in the North-East.

Why has he not spouted forth in the past? All he is doing is creating a storm which he can walk away from. During his service, Durham Constabulary has in effect been split into two by the creation of two divisions, each with its own control room.

This would not seem to line up with his vision of one police service for the North-East, when his own force is split into two, with presumably one half not knowing what is happening in the other. - Russell Elliott, Bishop Auckland.

PEDESTRIAN ZONE

I MUST congratulate R Elliot of Escomb (HAS, Oct 3) about his letter concerning Bishop Auckland's Newgate Street pedestrian zone - try crossing it on foot one day.

There is an endless stream of cars, which totally ignore the signs.

In the evenings I have seen boy racers along Newgate Street driving two abreast.

Parking. Take Park Street, for instance - double yellow lines - some days you cannot park on the lines because all the spaces are taken. The staff from the post office seem to be the biggest culprits, parking with total immunity.

It is a pity that the traffic wardens retired because they at least seemed to do something on odd occasions. The police are only conspicuous by their total absence. - C Witton, Bishop Auckland.