01/11/05

It would remind people of a very important feature of the history of East Cleveland.

However, I'm not so sure that the grindstones there were, in fact, used in the local alum industry. No part of the process needed the application of grinding and no remains of grindstones or sites of their installation have been found at the few excavated alum house sites.

But it is recorded that a steam engine was in use at the Lofthouse alum works and photographs exist showing a tall building and chimney at the associated Hummersea alum house.

It is also recorded that cement manufacture took place, so my guess is that the grindstones on display in Loftus actually came from Hummersea where they had been used in cement manufacture in a building close to but quite distinct from the alum house where the final alum processing took place.

The raw material for the production of cement was quarried along with the raw alum shale.

A better known factory which produced similar cement in the past still remains at Sandsend with evidence of having had at least two water wheels to drive grindstones. - Simon Chapman, Saltburn.

Alan Shearer

I CAN understand how Alan Shearer feels after the elbow incident with the Grimsby player, Justin Whittle, which took place during a recent League Cup match (Echo, Oct 27).

If the 6ft 5ins frame of Whittle carried out the same attack on a member of public on the street, then he would rightly be arrested for assault.

How he went unpunished by the referee for this incident is beyond me, as the man in charge was only a few yards away from both players when the incident happened.

Alan Shearer has every right to complain about the brutish behaviour of the Grimsby Town captain, who in my mind , was only trying to make a name for himself in front of the TV cameras.

Maybe he should think of rejoining the Army - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.

SMOKING

IN reply to Dennis Clarke, of Billingham, (HAS, Oct 29) I agree that if non-smokers do not wish to go to certain places because they allow smoking, they simply don't have to go there.

But what he seems to have forgotten is that many people, including myself, work in these establishments and do not wish to have our lives cut short due to the effects of passive smoking.

The choice is only there for those who have a choice. Some might say that it is my choice to work behind a bar, but somebody has to do it and is our health not important?

As an ex-smoker and an environmental health student, I know full well the effects smoking and passive smoking have on the human body as I have not only experienced it first hand, but have also read journals on the subject

Perhaps Mr Clarke and others who share his views could explain why they think it is perfectly acceptable to put our health at risk by allowing smoking in these places.

By boycotting places because they allow smoking, you then risk putting them out of business and in doing so, many will lose their jobs. Many young people, including a lot of students, work in bars and restaurants to earn extra cash to help them through university.

These people are our future and we should be doing everything we can to protect their health. - Susan Morton, Darlington.

I HAVE never advocated the removal of smoking areas. Smoking is a very cost effective method of population control.

Smoking reduces fertility and induces impotency. Smokers pay high taxes and die young before can they collect their pensions.

All right, we may have to foot some hospital bills a bit earlier, but everyone dies of something and this always costs.

I must, however, take issue with the correspondent who dismisses the effect of secondary smoking as this flies in the face of all scientific studies.

Apart from this, I and my clothes stink of smoke when I return from a smoky atmosphere, something he may never notice as smoking reduces the sense of smell as well as taste.

As long as there are no laws to protect me from smoke, publicans, etc will be afraid to risk the loss of profit and provide non-smoking establishments.

Smokers are free to make up their own minds: smoke or leave. I can't, my only choice is to leave. - Tom Cooper, Durham.

POLICE MERGER

CORRESPONDENTS writing to HAS on the proposed North-East police merger seem to have forgotten the role of the police in our democratic society.

The constabulary is the thin blue line between order and chaos and the police are located on the side where the majority who follow a peaceful way of life are to be found.

Since the television production of crime programmes, the police have now been moved across the line - being depicted as cops verses robbers.

They are portrayed as a force which is preventing criminals from breaking into our peace and tranquillity, instead of being a bastion for repelling those who choose to engage in criminal activity.

To put the matter into perspective, readers who are concerned about the proposed merger should read The Northern Echo's very interesting supplement, Made in the North-East (Echo, Oct 18), where they will find people, who are passionate about the area and require peace and tranquillity to realise their ambitions, and are giving an example of how to produce an agenda for future prosperity.

Julia Breen, Northern Echo Business Editor, in the foreword, stated: "The companies that have changed, diversified, innovated, and managed to keep one step ahead of the competition are the companies that have continued to be successful here."

When the word "companies", is changed to "polices forces", and "competition" to "criminals", then we can have a better understanding of how a North-East police force would corporately operate to ensure the safety and well-being of people residing and travelling within their jurisdiction. - Thomas Conlon, Spennymoor

HOSPITAL PRAISED

ARE we becoming a nation of whingers?

I have heard lots of bad reports about our hospitals and health service, yet, on October 10, when I was admitted to the medical day ward at Darlington Memorial Hospital then transferred to Ward 43, my experience was entirely different.

I was there for four days and I cannot praise the staff enough.

The ward was cleaned every day, as was each bed. There was alcohol gel at the end of each bed and the nursing staff were very pleasant and caring.

The food could not be faulted. There was plenty of choice and it was served up piping hot.

Private patients could not have been treated any better. I would like to thank everyone at the hospital. - Mrs P Fielden, Darlington.

Hurworth School Debate

EXCELLENT JOB: THE campaign in Darlington, led by Share (The Save Hurworth School Group), did an excellent job in highlighting several issues of concern affecting the lives of Darlington Borough Council ratepayers.

The council leader John Williams can pour as much scorn as he likes on this demonstration, but it is nothing compared to the contempt that is felt for this council's current town and country planning issues and their complete indifference to the wishes of most people.

Our own group Rage (Residents against Greenfield Eradication), whilst certainly not against the expansion of Durham Tees Valley Airport, is most definitely against the development of a business park on green- field land, when the airport already has over 850 acres of brownfield land at its disposal (with planning permission).

We have a right to ask the council to insist that an alternative plan to this greenfield development is submitted. - J Cooper, for Rage.

NO ANSWERS

IT was with some amusement and no surprise that I found myself deselected by the Darlington LEA as an LEA governor for Hurworth, considering the challenge I have put into discussions around the proposed merger of Hurworth and Eastbourne schools.

I believe this is yet another step in the council and LEA's desire to stifle robust debate and discussion around the merger and suppress information.

What are the alternatives to the Cummins site for the new build? No answer.

Where is the evidence that 1,200 is the optimal size school for the delivery of first class education? No answer.

Where is the evidence that merging a successful school with a less successful school leads to successful educational outcomes? No answer, until finally I was told that it was all about the successful implementation of change management.

These people are playing with the future education of the children from both schools.

For this woeful LEA and council, which consistently in the past and present shows a distinct lack of strategic direction, leadership and thinking, I have nothing but contempt. - Chris Aston, Hurworth.

THREE ISSUES

IN this emerging world of double-speak and spin it is sometimes difficult to recognise the truth. There are three issues in your article "Leaked report reveals early fears over future of schools" (Echo, Oct 20) that illustrate this.

In particular the quotes from the LEA spokesman that should be considered in a little more detail.

Firstly, the LEA says that "of course" they would be concerned about Hurworth going as a foundation school because they want to have all "schools working together".

Yet they are in raptures about being able to express an interest in establishing a City Academy, that would operate totally outside their control, under private control and not in the interests of the community they serve.

Share (The Save Hurworth School Group), has developed model proposals under which Hurworth would operate within a commissioning framework managed by the LEA as an equal partner, achieving the best opportunity for the pupils of Hurworth and throughout the town.

Secondly, the LEA spokesman says that the future is now secure for "all secondary schools until at least 2010/11".

Remembering that the town has seven secondary schools now, all seven are safe until January 1 2012. It follows that no City Academy will replace any school in 2008, 2009, 2010 or 2011.

Lastly, the LEA spokesman reports that, as a foundation, Hurworth would have the same inadequate buildings. Even the LEA now accepts that a 900/1,000-place school can be built on the current site at Hurworth. Funding for this could come through a number of sources.

The LEA must now start to be honest with the town and recognise that the partnership that is essential to good governance. A partnership where one party gets its own way is neither healthy or indicative of good governance. - Martin Phillips, Darlington.