17/12/05

In my opinion, there is very little chance of that being successful as central government wishes to create twelve national forces in line with the proposed regional assemblies for England.

I would remind Mr Clarke local people know what is best for local people and that the people of the North-East sent Mr Prescott away with a bloody nose when they voted no to the North East Regional Assembly. - John Waiting, Guisborough.

MAYA EVANS

FOR Maya Evans to be given a criminal record simply for reading aloud a list of British service personnel killed in Iraq (Echo, Dec 14) is a travesty of British justice, particularly since Britain's involvement in the Iraq war was illegal because it was not sanctioned by the United Nations.

Maya Evans has been branded a criminal just because she was exercising her right to free speech.

Tony Blair, who was directly responsible for this offence to decent society, is becoming increasingly intolerant of Parliament, dismissing any view but his own.

He is best suited to the appellation he has given Maya Evans because the way he continues to treat with contempt the high ideals of Magna Carta is nothing short of criminal.

What Mr Blair is doing is not new. A similar situation developed during the 1930s when a dictator took control of Germany. - Charlie Emett, Darlington.

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

AT the last General Election the Labour Government was returned with only 36 per cent of the vote.

A coalition of constitutional reform groups is now backing a cross party bill which could end the first past the post (FPTP) system. Proposals for an Electoral Choice Bill have now been put before the House of Commons and are supported by the Electoral Reform Society, Charter 88, as well as the Liberal Democrats who have long campaigned for a fairer voting system.

A system based on proportional representation (PR) would help restore the electorate's failing confidence that their vote is worth casting under the current system. So many people that I met on doorsteps in Richmond (Yorkshire) during this year's election said that they wanted PR so that they could express a genuine voter opinion rather than feel that they had to go with the flow of the incumbent's large majority if they were to feel that their vote counted.

The Government did promise to look at voting reform soon after it came to power but, aside from a form of PR introduced in Scotland and Wales for the elections in 1999 and the introduction of Single Transferable Vote elections for Scottish Councils in 2007 (pushed for by the Liberal Democrats in the coalition north of the border), there has been no change and many voters feel that voting is not worth the effort.

Therefore, the Electoral Choice Bill is to be welcomed by those who support democracy in Britain. - Jacquie Bell, Parliamentary Spokesperson, Richmond (Yorkshire) Liberal Democrats.

GIVE BLOOD

THE best Christmas present your readers can give is the gift of life. I am writing to encourage them to become blood donors over the Christmas period and then for life.

The winter weather can have adverse effects on blood stock levels. This is due to people being less likely to donate because of various factors, including colds and flu that prevent people going to their local blood donor session. As a result, blood stocks traditionally fall by ten per cent, which means a push for more donors to register is needed to cover the shortfall.

Giving blood in the run up to Christmas will help the National Blood Service to save lives, it's as simple as that. For those who have never given blood before, I ask them to consider taking a few minutes out of their busy day to register their details, and for existing donors, remember you can give blood up to three times a year.

I am encouraging more people to become blood donors by either calling the National Donor helpline on 08457 711 711 (24 hours) or by visiting www.blood.co.uk. - John Fashanu, TV presenter and ex-footballer.

MARGARET THATCHER

SHARON Griffiths is incorrect in cynically assuming that Margaret Thatcher's recent rapid hospital treatment is in any way unusual.

A couple of years ago my then 80-year-old mother, Marjorie (nee Knott) a native of Middleton St George, fainted while waiting for a bus in London.

This occurred outside the Royal Hospital Chelsea, home of the Chelsea Pensioners. After being taken to their infirmary, a rare female patient, she was transferred, like Mrs T, to the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital.

There she was rapidly put through a battery of tests and could have stayed overnight for observation but preferred the alternative of being discharged.

Perhaps we should "Rejoice! Rejoice!" that the minions of the, now rusting, Iron Lady were unable to torpedo the NHS. - David Stead, Darlington.

MINERS' PENSIONS

SIX years ago the Coalfield Communities campaign's report to the Government asked for a fairer division of surpluses as the Government's 50 per cent takeaway of the miners' pension fund was grossly unfair.

Today the CC is still campaigning for a reduction in that 50 per cent while the MPs' trustees, in their September 2004 report, had hoped that the Government would have conceded to members retaining a larger share of surpluses.

Many North-East MPs have already voiced their disapproval of the Government's multiple millions taken from the ex-miners' surpluses. Yet the ministers still refuse to concede.

With the MPs' Trustees long term strategy being to generate surpluses which will allow benefit improvements, it will also allow the Government's continued rake off of ex-miners' surpluses.

We can look ahead to 2050, when the fund will be valued at many billions and with just a few thousands members, the Government will be in line for a large inheritance. Now is the time for a reduction to the 50 per cent. - A Greathead, Trimdon Village.

SWIMMING POOL

THE effort put in by Labour stalwarts towards community activities is well documented. We would have been keen to promote the future of Shildon swimming pool with money from the town council if the general public had been more supportive.

For years, Friends of the Swimming Pool approached various agents for financial support but without success.

Public meetings were poorly attended and I do not recall F Edwards (HAS, Dec 9) offering his services or indeed did he attend?

As regards to other councils' spending plans, we reserve judgement until we are aware of the facts and the future implications, but we do know that if you do not upgrade now we will get left behind. - Allan Walker, Shildon.

BUS BLUES: BEFORE Darlington Borough Council congratulate themselves on the supposed increase in visitors to the town because of increased car parking figures (Echo, Dec 9) they should think of the other side of the story.

Before the onset of pedestrianisation, we could catch our bus outside the covered market and be home in four minutes. Now, we have to walk to the bottom of Tubwell Row.

The bus has to force its way out on to the Parkgate roundabout in rush-hour traffic and around the Ringroad then back onto Coniscliffe Road from Grange Road. All this to avoid running along Blackwellgate.

All this has made our bus times so erratic that we have finally given up the struggle and now go by car to town, contributing to those car parking figures.

If the council had laid paved busways without kerbs, as Newcastle has already done, along Bondgate and Blackwellgate we would still have bus stops in useful central locations.

The whole thing seems a lacklustre solution to the town centre problems. Instead of making it more difficult for bus users the council should be encouraging people out of their cars before the roads of Darlington finally strangle themselves to a standstill. - Peter Singlehurst, Darlington.

UNSAFE STOPS: WHEN someone had the bright idea of moving some of the bus stops from Bondgate to outside pubs in Tubwell Row, did they not think of the safety of the public?

Myself and my partner frequently used and supported the bus service. However, twice throughout November I have felt uneasy stood at the bus stop, due to being surrounded by drunken yobs who have been coming out of the pub.

I will no longer get on a bus on my own as I simply do not feel safe especially when it's dark. I know I'm not the only one, as other people I have spoken to have said similar things.

I was initially in support of the proposed schemes to the changes to Darlington town centre, but not any longer, things are turning into a shambles, both for traders and the general public. - Miss V Hulmes, Darlington

PEDESTRIANISATION: THE grand council scheme is supposed to be "pedestrianisation" but, in reality, is it?

Take High Row, that landmark feature which distinguishes Darlington from any other town, for example. The steps, balustrades and railings will be torn out, the highway raised to the same level as the pavement adjoining the shops and paved.

But then a kerb or step is to be provided so as to mark the carriageway from the footpath. There will be vehicles of one class or another having access to High Row throughout the day.

The traffic is below the pavement but, when the scheme is completed, it will be on the same level as the pavement separated from it by a small step which it will be easy to run over whether by accident or design.

Pedestrians on the pavement will be in greater danger of being hit by a vehicle.

According to "Murphy's Law" - if a thing can go wrong, it will - so we have an accident waiting to happen!

To gain access to and egress from High Row, traffic will have to go along Blackwellgate and Bondgate where the same danger of conflict will arise. Paragraph 32 of the Report to the Cabinet on November 16, 2004, said: "One of the main concerns relates to retaining the character and heritage of the town, maintaining a sense of place and responding to the features that typify Darlington." Improve High Row do not remove High Row - there is time to change the scheme - do it now - John W Antill, Darlington.

ROAD MODIFICATIONS: WHEN writing a political comment (HAS, Dec 2), it is important to be in possession of the facts, not the perceived situation.

Simon McDonald need not trouble himself in trying to arbitrate between the controlling group and any opposition councillors, with his ill advised comments, it is difficult enough trying to do this in the council chamber.

All major roads leading into the town centre have suffered, and will continue to suffer, congestion at heavily used junctions. This is not caused by road repairs in the main, but a programme of modifications to slim down traffic flows in line with regional and government policy, resulting in many cases with too much traffic for the road space available.

Regarding West End roads, whether major or minor, we would like, and hope, to take our turn within a strictly-controlled road maintenance programme. Residents in these wards are patient, knowing full well that they pay by far the highest council tax per capita in Darlington which helps support other areas less fortunate. - Councillor Ron Lewis.

POLLUTION: A recent fire at a scrapyard on Albert Hill was described as non-dangerous.

The smell in the town was horrendous that day and my wife and I had to come back to Cockerton.

To say that burning tyres, PVC cabling, brake fluid, anti-freeze, petrol and diesel, the many more products dumped there are non-hazardous is irresponsible.

There is no point in blaming cigarette smoke on lung problems when this pollution is spewed out on regular occasions by various sources. - John Barr, Darlington.

MUSIC PLEASE: HAVING just read articles in The Northern Echo in connection with Darlington markets, I would like to pass on my comments.

The market needs livening up with a music stall, as at Catterick market. I love to visit that market, it's so lively. If there was piped popular music that would give Darlington market some life.

At other times when there is no market on the market place is a large empty square, with no atmosphere. It is screaming out for a fountain, seating and trees. - Kath Calvert, Darlington.