GRANDIOSE PROJECTS

IT appears that council leaders now view themselves as businessmen rather than public servants, even addressing citizens as customers.

They, of course, enjoy a great advantage over other businesses which would face criminal charges if they demanded inflated prices for goods then refused to deliver the goods or refund the purchase price.

The ever-increasing purchase price (council tax) demanded by Durham County Council is used for grandiose projects and controversial public art.

My small community has four street lights and weekly rubbish collections, the total benefits we receive from the council tax (except emergency services).

We accepted the situation, never asking for the refinement of civilised life enjoyed by others.

When all daytime buses were withdrawn by that other 'customer friendly' monopoly Arriva, we were informed that subsidies were not cost effective in our case, thus banning non-driving old people from shops, doctors, libraries, theatres etc - in effect a sentence of perpetual house arrest.

The proudly-proclaimed park and ride scheme is actually an unfair stealth tax. A single occupant car owner pays £1.70 parking fee by taking the park and ride bus.

And politicians wonder why there is a low turnout for elections. - JB Scott, Town Kelloe.

ROYAL VISIT

I AGREE with Farrer Johnson regarding Princess Anne's visit to the North-East (HAS, Dec 7).

I would have loved to have gone to Wearhead in Weardale to see her. However, I couldn't find out what time she was due there.

I rang the water company and just got an answering machine saying: "We're taking no incoming calls", full stop. So that was the end of that.

Do people in London have the same treatment as us? - WL Hagorth, Bishop Auckland.

TOWN LOGO

I AM a Shildon resident who finds it appalling that Sedgefield Borough Council can spend £72,000 on a logo change, which they say has been discussed by residents of the borough.

I must have not been around on that day, as I have never been asked, nor has any member of my family been approached about this.

I think it is disgusting to use our money on a revamped logo which doesn't look that much different from the old one.

When you look around Shildon town there are other things that the money could have been spent on, like on the swimming pool - instead of closing it. It is disgusting that this has happened. - Name and address supplied.

DAVID CAMERON

BY voting so decisively in favour of David Cameron, Conservative members have done their party a service.

The leadership vote was a surprise to many, but in the end a clear winner emerged. Most impressive about Mr Cameron I feel, is the way that he handles the media.

This showed itself to great effect when, in the early days of the campaign, he refused to confirm or deny that he had taken drugs.

As always with the Conservatives it is very important for a new leader to have the support of a senior party figure and Lord Heseltine has made known his approval of David Cameron.

Conservative supporters generally will be pleased that David Cameron's first Commons appearance as leader has been so well received. - LD Wilson, Guisborough.

PROJECT PROCEDURES

IN 1996 an EU civil servant who examined applications for project funding explained that, when only 75 per cent of the budget was allocated, all the worthy projects were covered.

Despite her protests, she was told that allocations should be made up to the full budget amount or next year's budget would be reduced.

Neil Kinnock was appointed to investigate the system of fund allocation and it was changed in order to make it more efficient with adequate local and national controls.

The Government Office in the North-East has procedures to ensure that projects are worthy of being financed. The office has been accused of not spending all that has been allocated to it. There were not enough worthy projects.

Now there are some account queries that are being resolved. Some people have seized on what is an important but relatively minor situation to make political capital.

Experience of government funding of projects shows that vetting of applications is sometimes hard to achieve and a mistake can be made. In putting matters right it would be wrong to make public the details of what is otherwise a genuine applicant.

There are procedures for dealing with cases of intended fraud.

The auditor's job is to identify where there are failings and enable appropriate action to be taken. That action is not always best done in the public domain. - Bill Morehead, Darlington.

PENSIONS DILEMMA

SINCE the Second World War all our governing parties have been busily working to make England the benefit paradise of the civilised world.

But the socially deprived and lamentably tolerable people of all ages face a future of constant worry and concern.

The huge dilemma around pensions should, had we been governed responsibly, never have arisen and both main parties are to blame. If people could retire to the benches of Parliament or the Lords where sleeping on the job is an accepted way of life, then a pensionable age of 67 would indeed be welcome.

More so, I might hasten to add, if it yielded the too adequate salaries these old codgers enjoy, and the ensuing high and unjustified pensions they are guaranteed.

Let's face it, for every MP who knows what is required to ensure future stability, we have six to deride and swerve them from any course which might unseat them for the only career they could do - that of town crier.

Common sense and politicians can be likened to beauty and the beast in that order and sadly, like oil and water, do not mix. For many years, we as a nation have elected on promises and have reaped a poor harvest. Next election I suspect the grim reaper will return. - Russell Stewart, Spennymoor.

WIND TURBINES

NOW that permission for the extra 12 wind turbines near Tow Law has been given, would someone from Derwentside District Council care to spell out exactly what benefits they will bring to the area and also just how those benefits will be achieved?

I anticipate a deafening silence because I doubt that there are any.

Convince me. - J Routledge, Witton Gilbert.

PARK AND RIDE

AT the launch of Durham City park and ride scheme on December 8 the leader of Durham County Council, Ken Manton, stated: "I am sure park and ride will quickly establish itself as the preferred means of getting into Durham for commuters, shoppers and visitors" (Echo, Dec 2).

I invite Councillor Manton to write to Hear All Sides to confirm that he, and indeed all county councillors, will now always use park and ride as they commute to County Hall. - George Jones, Ferryhill.