17/01/06

Lamenting the three years in jail for Reynolds, Mr Amos says: "Many even now would vouch for the good that Reynolds has done, many more for what he tried to do."

Reynolds' evasion of a huge amount of tax was a serious offence against all who pay their dues to help keep hospitals, schools and everything else in this country running.

He got what was coming to him after a calculated deceit to line his own pockets at everyone else's expense.

I have no sympathy for Reynolds and nor should anyone else. Undoubtedly, those who suffered disturbing 'visits' from Reynolds on the doorstep certainly won't.

I feel Mr Amos is abusing his position as a supposedly impartial and objective journalist by promoting the cause of a crook who happens to be his friend. - Margaret Gordon, Darlington.

HOUSING

THE North-East has seen a large scale programme of new housing developments during recent years, much of it welcomed.

However, when house prices soared during the past two years and local manufacturing jobs disappeared, lowering the living standards of many households, it was inevitable that market forces would result in a reduction of house prices.

It is a well known fact that extra new houses bring in extra council tax revenue to local councils.

The Government at Westminster cannot afford to continue to allow our manufacturing jobs to be lost to the Far East economy.

We have a £40bn a year trade deficit which is not what I call a healthy way to run our country which has a large NHS deficit despite receiving extra funding - eight per cent above inflation paid for from National Insurance increases.

Not what I would call a prudent economy. - Councillor Ben Ord, Chair, Spennymoor Liberal Democrats.

ALCOHOL DEBATE

THE resignation of Charles Kennedy has been presented by members of his party and the media as an unavoidable conclusion to a period of deep personal turmoil.

That he was able to last so long, it is inferred, is a measure both of Mr Kennedy as a capable politician, and Charles Kennedy the human being. Yet, for many of us, the drama days leading up to it are more a representation of the deep confusion we, and those that claim to represent our views, feel over the wider issues of alcohol use and misuse.

Had Charles Kennedy claimed to be teetotal, waved a banner of temperance and argued for stringent controls on alcohol use, his recent disclosure could, perhaps, be argued as revealing a lack of personal integrity.

But he did not. Just as well. Had these things been true, he would never have been elected leader of his party, nor achieved the Liberal Democrats' best electoral results for 80 years.

The truth is, we like alcohol, and we like people who drink it like we do. By extension, we do not like, or trust, those who do not.

Problem drinking, alcohol misuse, alcoholism or whatever we choose to describe it as in polite company, is another thing.

Having problems with alcohol is a bad thing. The problem drinker is, by extension, a bad person. Yet, outside of addictions, what other personal health problem are we expected to "admit" to having? Failure to make an admission is, of course, even worse. That's denial.

Farewell for now Mr Kennedy. This may be the end of something for you. Many of us hope it might just be a start of a meaningful debate about alcohol. - Mick Davies RMN, General Manager, Tunstall Unit, Sunderland.

CENTRE TOILETS

IN reply to Stephen Beaton's letter (HAS, Jan 10), Darlington Borough Council is not responsible for the toilets in the Cornmill Centre. Any complaint about them should be directed to the Cornmill management.

Eight months ago East Row toilets in the Market Place reopened after refurbishment and installation of a brand new toilet for the disabled, which is in the entrance.

This is for the disabled in wheelchairs, plus it is also a baby changing area. The Mobility shop has a public disabled toilet and so has the Dolphin Centre.

In an ideal world we should have more public toilets. Sadly, it is not an ideal world and I do sympathise with wheelchair dependent people. - CF Walker, Darlington.

IN response to the letter regarding a wheelchair accessible toilet in the Cornmill Centre, the Cornmill toilets are undergoing a refurbishment to provide a wheelchair accessible toilet next to the lift at street level. This toilet is on the RADAR key scheme.

However, the writer complained that this was the only wheelchair accessible toilet in the town centre. There is another under the market in East Row. There is also one by the Dolphin Centre adjacent to Darlington Association on Disability's office. - Gordon Pybus, Chair, Darlington Association on Disability.

BLOOD SPORTS

IN reply to Stuart Hill (Echo, Jan 11), I have long since stopped caring about what people say about me, but I would give more credence to his opinions if he did not make such ludicrous comments.

We who oppose blood sports know perfectly well that the fox hunters are pursuing and killing foxes out of the sight of the public and the police, who have an impossible task trying to bring these law breakers to justice.

I still cling to my principled position on blood sports along with countless millions of my fellow citizens. And in reply to P Blewitt (Echo, Jan 1), whenever anyone writes to voice opposition to blood sports, fox hunting in particular, these people who enjoy killing wild creatures for fun will use any silly words to try and discredit those of us who detest these, and I say it again, law breakers.

Laws are on the statute to be obeyed not to become a matter of choice and stupid remarks about B movies cannot change that. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

OLD TOWN HALL

ALAN Docherty writes that Darlington Council wants to sell the Town Hall site to Tesco (HAS, Jan 2).

I am horrified. The impact on our famous Covered Market will be devastating and it is already struggling as a result of losing the buses from West Row.

The outdoor market and town centre shops will all suffer too and some may not survive the competition.

As Alan Docherty says, Tesco's market power together with that of other supermarkets has serious consequences not only for local shops and markets, but for suppliers, farmers, and the environment.

The supermarkets' hunt for cheap food has encouraged intensive agriculture both at home and abroad, this is at the expense of more sustainable methods and puts small farmers out of business.

Fewer local farmers and shops mean that both customers and goods have to travel further and there is more pollution from cars, lorries and aircraft, and more global warming.

Please contact your local councillor and urge the council to think again. - Rev Ann MacKeith, Darlington.