08/11/05

Does this man ever go into the town centre or have the misfortune of living where I do in the North Road area?

Every night, almost without fail, I see police cars, fire engines and people shouting and fighting without ever leaving my house. Who needs a TV?

After becoming fed up with the poverty and crime on Teesside, we moved to Darlington which, while it wasn't great, was better. But now it's just as bad as some parts of Middlesbrough.

In short, Darlington, in my opinion as a resident, is becoming more violent. - John Warwick, Darlington.

SMOKING

I WAS fascinated to read LG Edgar's letter (HAS, Nov 5) stating that there is no link between smoking and lung cancer, a link accepted for over 40 years by the medical profession and even the tobacco industry.

I think Edgar has a social and ethical duty to reveal this evidence. Think what a load would be taken off the shoulders of smokers, worried sick about the damage smoking is doing to them, if they can be reassured by Edgar that they can carry on smoking without suffering any ill effects.

Think how much happiness that would bring to millions of smokers. They would have none of the worry and pain of trying to give up. - Eric Gendle Middlesbrough.

BONFIRE RAGE

ANYONE arriving in the UK for the first time on November 5 could be forgiven for believing that they had been dropped into a war zone.

The noise and intensity of modern fireworks are almost unbearable and must leave some people and most animals cowering in their homes during the 'celebrations'.

It is unbelievable that this annual mayhem is left in the hands of people who don't know the meaning of the word moderation. Firework legislation is a total joke when sporadic explosions could still be heard throughout the early hours of November 6.

Bonfires, too, raged on many a piece of open land, spewing their stink and filth into an atmosphere. Who are these irresponsible householders who eagerly hand over their discarded kitchen units and foam-filled furniture?

Don't they want to take credit for their contribution to the annual ritual of getting rid of troublesome rubbish?

All unsuspecting newcomers to this country must think that some collective madness has possessed the British. It is time that this lunacy was banned. It serves no historical purpose and does nothing to promote a responsible attitude towards our environment. - D Brearley, Middlesbrough.

HARRY FARR

RE the news about Harry Farr (Echo, Oct 25). I believe his relatives are quite entitled to seek a pardon for him.

I don't think, by any modern humane standards of judgement, anyone who could do about six years in the Army could be called a coward.

Presumably, being a private, he came from a poor, working class family.

I would like to draw to readers' attention that, given the class system at the time, the officers who condemned him no doubt came from relatively wealthy families, had far higher expectations in life and may have bought their commissions. Also, they may have had the option to buy themselves out at any time they chose.

I believe Pte Farr easily has the moral high ground (or his memory has) and the Ministry of Defence should apologise profusely, possibly with compensation to his relatives, for this callous and no doubt totally unnecessary example of the inhumanity of those times.

I was discharged after National Service in the RAF in peacetime and was sickened by the snobbish, hypocrites who ran it. (I am 70 now).

Pte Farr's relatives should not feel ashamed of him or have to excuse his illness, probably in circumstances we can't even imagine. And if I am to be shot for saying so at 70, I hold myself ready.

My proudest possession is my discharge certificate. - D Dawson, York.

SPEED CAMERAS

RE the anonymous letter (HAS, Nov 4) concerning speed cameras near Thorpe Thewles. This letter sounded exactly like an attempt to disguise the fact that these cameras are simply a means of raising cash for the Government.

The section of road described could have been made safer by the installation of a roundabout or by blocking off the gap between the carriageways (as on the A19 at the Black Swan at East Rounton) but these cost more than a couple of cameras and there is no cash return.

If the reader had bothered to read Mr Mallon's article he/she would have realised that it talked about a partnership between motorists and authorities to make roads safer - more cycle lanes, better road surfacing - in return for a more responsible attitude from road users, as is the case in Sweden. - Barry Kidd, Stockton.

ASSEMBLY FACTS

B Brown admits his/her ignorance about the North East Assembly, despite many items in the Press (HAS, Oct 18). Anyone can look up all the facts on our website www.northeast assembly.gov.uk.

Members give their time free but are paid travel and other expenses on production of receipts. Our 73 members represent all strands of society. We are democratically elected by our affiliated organisations, including all 25 of the region's local authorities. Funding comes mainly from government grant, with a small amount from the 25 councils.

What your correspondent and others ignore is the fact that the present, indirectly-elected North East Assembly, which was formed in 1999, was not on the ballot paper in last November's referendum, nor were any other of the 100-plus regional organisations that we pay for through our taxes. The choice was clear: either an entirely new system of regional and local government (a directly elected assembly and unitary councils for Durham and Northumberland) or the status quo. The overwhelming vote was for the status quo, including the present assembly. I am a democrat and I accept that vote - why can't others?

Jim Tague is a critic of the assembly and of the EU (HAS, Oct 19), despite the fact that many of his Tory colleagues are active, elected members of both organisations.

He accuses the assembly and EU of being secretive, yet admits he found out about the recent reception at Auckland Castle from the web. This is secrecy, but not as we know it, Jim. We put information on the web to make it public, not keep it a secret.

As long as we are in the EU, it would be stupid not to maximise the benefits of membership. That includes inviting senior EU officials to visit our region. And where better to entertain them than at Auckland Castle? - Coun Chris Foote-Wood, Vice Chair, North East Assembly.