26/01/06

Since Labour came to power in 1997, council tax has risen by a massive 80 per cent. This is desperately unfair for pensioners and those on a fixed income.

Durham residents are being squeezed by a high tax LibDem city council and a Labour county council.

Councillors should commit themselves to fair council tax, good value services and less waste through better management. Fair council tax would be not to impose above inflation increases on local residents. This would be bold, clear and accountable. - Michael Fishwick, City of Durham and Easington Conservative Association.

LONDON OLYMPICS

WITH the London Olympic Games on the horizon, the Government's aspiration to heighten our sense of nationalism and patriotism presents a prospect that some may find unedifying.

Personally, I feel we would have more to be proud of if we offered the world an innovative games with far less flag waving.

At medal presentation ceremonies the flag raising could be replaced by a video clip of the winning athlete's home town or village.

This might be more in keeping with the ancient spirit of the games. It would be particularly appropriate in cases where athletes from poor countries have been poached by rich ones. - John Riseley, Harrogate.

ALCOHOL BRITAIN

THE plight of Charles Kennedy, the now former leader of his party, not only highlights his political demise but also yet another high profile figure in the headlines for the wrong reasons.

Sadly, for many not as well known as Mr Kennedy, the impact of alcohol misuse brings the same misery and shame.

Alcohol problems have been for too long a prominent feature of Britain. Images of binge drinkers causing injuries to themselves and to others have contributed to a reputation this country can do without.

Heavy drinking has earned Britain the top spot for this abuse in Europe. Not that the French or Germans have moderate appetites, but it is the nature of their drinking that is different from ours.

As someone who likes a drink, the social aspects are important. The family gathering, or a meal out with friends is acceptable, but creating mayhem and the destruction characteristic of the yob culture is the demise of a nation priding itself as a super power and fulfilling the ambition of bringing the Olympics to London in 2012. - Bernie Walsh, Coxhoe.

BRITISHNESS

I BELIEVE that it was Oscar Wilde that said that patriotism was the last refuge of the scoundrel.

Although I would hesitate to describe Gordon Brown as such, I wonder what his motives are in promoting 'Britishness'.

He is part of a Government that is seeking to break up the United Kingdom; giving partial self government to Scotland and Wales and trying to foist upon England puppet regional assemblies based on spurious boundaries.

We must either bring the UK back under one parliament or, if that is not possible, provide a parliament for England. - Peter Elliott, Eaglescliffe.

ELECTED MAYOR

GIVEN the abrasive attitude of Darlington Borough Council towards any residents who dare to oppose their 'we are right' attitude, then surely the time is now right for Darlington to have an elected mayor.

Having an elected mayor would be beneficial in many ways as it would connect 100 per cent of the town's 102,000 borough inhabitants.

You could get rid of an elected mayor if he was doing a poor job.

It would also eradicate the need for organised protest petitions to prevent the destruction of landmark features, such as the White Horse Hotel, as the mayor would know that he would have to act in the residents' interests to remain in office.

The extra benefit of an elected mayor is that the person may have no direct connection to the three main political parties, thereby ensuring that they are defenders of the people they represent, rather than the perceived dictatorial leader that Darlington Council has become. - Mark Anderson, Middleton St George.

WAR OF WORDS

THE US government is very good at inventing euphemisms, isn't it?

For a long time, innocent civilians killed or injured in war have been referred to as 'collateral damage'.

Torture is now called 'prisoner abuse'. The attack on Iraq, a country which posed no real threat to the US and had no connection whatsoever with the terrorist attacks of September 11, was described as 'pre-emptive self-defence'.

Now we have a new one: 'extraordinary rendition'. This means kidnapping someone and handing them over to a third party to be tortured. - Pete Winstanley, Durham.

SORE PINT

YOU might not have twigged it but the bureaucrats of Brussels have pledged to outlaw the traditional British pint.

They ruled that the voluntary display of information in customary units will no longer be permitted on packaging sold in the EU after December 31, 2009.

It seems we will soon have to be served in litres, half litres, quarter litres, etc.

Don't they realise that they will be destroying hundreds of years of brewing heritage and a great British tradition? Or don't they care?

I expect a funny look from my landlord when I ask him for 568 millilitres of his best bitter. - Aled Jones, Bridlington.

HOMELESS PLIGHT

I WORKED all my life. Lived in Darlington all my life and I try to be a good honest person.

I recently ran into some hard times when I lost my job because of a misunderstanding and lost the house I rented over my landlord not being prepared to wait for £150.

I have been registered with the council for housing for a while now and was offered a place in August, but because I was working away in Scotland I had to turn the property down as I was unable to collect the keys in the time allowed.

I lost my job at the end of October so, for the last six to seven weeks, including Christmas, I have been staying with friends a couple of nights at a time and sleeping on a couch.

Now, to top it off, one of my friends has said that I cannot stay there any more due to the council cutting his benefit and raising his rent.

Private landlords want up to £800 before you can move into a place and then you have to pay an administration fee of anything up to £200.

Is it me or has Darlington got a housing crisis? - Name and address supplied.

* A letter on opencast mining published in HAS yesterday was written by Tony Kelly, of Crook, and not Hugh Pender, of Darlington. We apologise for the error.