PREDATOR CONTROL: RE the letter from Helen Shuker of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (HAS, Oct 3) concerning the shooting and snaring of animals, which she seems proud and arrogant enough to refer to as a 'predator control'.

Man is the most evil and prolific predator on this planet, which I may add, does not belong to the human race, but rather we belong to it. Nature is quite capable of finding its own balance and we are part of that process, along with all animals, whether they be wild or domestic.

I would suggest to Helen Shuker and members of her 'illustrious' organisation that any person who finds pleasure in snaring or shooting resulting in the maiming or death of any creature is unbalanced themselves and rather than concern themselves with the balance of nature, they should concentrate on why they find torture and cruelty so attractive.

Don't flatter yourselves by believing you are helping to 'control' nature.

Take away your snares, your guns and your especially trained terriers and you are nothing but cowards. - Name and address supplied.

BUS STATION

BRIAN Fiske, on behalf of Darlington's Liberal Democrats, is just plain wrong when he demands another bus station at Feethams (Echo, Oct 11).

As he knows, the existing bus station is empty because the bus companies refuse to use it.

They told Darlington Borough Council that the site in Feethams was too far away from the town centre to be convenient for their passengers.

The companies have made it clear that if another bus station were built, they would not use it. The council has no powers to compel them to do otherwise.

Darlington Liberal Democrats' pledge to build a new bus station would be nothing more than a gigantic white elephant, costing Darlington tax payers millions.

As always, the only form of transport the LibDems are really interested in is the nearest bandwagon they can jump on.

It's yet another issue where their policies can't be taken seriously. - Coun Nick Wallis, Labour Cabinet Member, Highways and Transport, Darlington Borough Council.

SEX SHOP

I RECENTLY went shopping in a sex shop in Darlington and was most annoyed at the behaviour of a middle-aged couple who were standing outside the premises' front door labelling the shoppers as 'perverts' and other ghastly names.

The man even said to me that the shop was "the gateway to hell". How odd. I only visited the store to buy a pair of Tarzan trunks for a female friend's fancy dress party .

What is it with sex and middle-aged couples? We are now living in the modern world and they should realise that sex is not a dirty word and that sex shops are visited by clean living individuals and not sick 'perverts' .

When I was in the sex shop there were a few women there buying toys and lingerie.

Maybe the middle-aged couple in question should actually visit the store themselves as I am sure that their visit may bring a smile to their sulky faces. It certainly made this Tarzan happy. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.

FAST FOOD

AT the moment there are ten food outlets in Cockerton village, Darlington.

Planning permission has been applied for an extra fast food outlet, on the site of the old filling station and garage.

If this is granted it will mean more upset for the neighbourhood, with more litter, extra traffic and parking problems.

At the next planning meeting only one person will be allowed to speak for three minutes about this matter.

Apparently, this is democracy. - John A Barr, Darlington.

LITTER LOUTS

I RECENTLY experienced a similar experience to that of R Vincent (HAS, Oct 12) which could, potentially, have been more serious.

Some time ago I was walking along a footpath leading to the Asda supermarket in Whinbush Way, Darlington, with my young granddaughter, when I came across two school pupils sitting on the wall.

One of these boys had a pair of scissors in his hand and was cutting up paper into tiny pieces and letting them drop to the ground. I asked him if he had nothing better to do than to make a mess and asked him to pick the litter up and put it in the litter bin which was almost at arm's reach from where he was sitting.

Like the girls on High Row, Darlington, I was subjected to verbal abuse while he continued to drop the litter. Although I was a little shaken, I decided to stand my ground and wait until he picked up the litter.

At this point another boy approached us. In his hand was an empty Coke can which he threw down at my feet before sitting on the wall next to his mates. Eventually, after the boy with the scissors realised I was not going to move, he very slowly started to pick up the litter and placed it in the litter bin. I walked away. When they knew they were at a safe distance from me they hurled a load of abuse.

This sort of behaviour shouldn't be tolerated and my heart goes out to the staff at Asda who have to clean up the mess left by pupils from the school.

Where are the community wardens that the council is so keen to boast about - certainly not outside Asda store. - S Greener, Darlington.

SUPER SUNSETS

RE JE Atkins on Darlington Council's 'misrepresentations and mistakes' (HAS, Oct 4). I can add another.

The Central Park project beside the railway is almost entirely unwanted by the local people in Hundens Lane. Many allotment holders will have to move - pigeons and all.

At present the area has many birds and lots of wildlife. It is a green haven, plus we can watch the lovely sunsets.

Apart perhaps from the new Tech, there is no need for any more buildings. - A Johnson, Darlington.

TOWN CLERK

ANGRY is not the way I would describe how I feel. How would readers from Darlington feel if their Labour town councillors had just cost them in the region of possibly £50,000 over the wrongful dismissal of the town clerk (Echo, Sept 29)?

We in Thornaby could use that sort of money in programmes for the disaffected children or some other such scheme. The nerve of these people to just assume it is in reserve and we will pay this bill. We did not sack anyone but they did, so let's see them pay up, resign and then move away, taking their political motivations with them. - Thomas Graham, Thornaby.

HOW can Labour councillors in Thornaby expect to remain in office after they have been found guilty of wrongdoing? Surely, if a court says their reasons were politically motivated, shouldn't we be demanding they step down?

Don't the people of Thornaby have the right to see them pay for this episode and be put to shame? What went on, according to reports, was nothing short of victimisation. Perhaps the lady who was sacked should now be taking them to court individually. I am sure I would. - A Pattison, Thornaby-on-Tees.