Hear All Sides

The other support group contact, Dave Preston, represents Firthmoor Community Partnership. In no sense can either be described as "backers", a word synonymous with sponsors in this context.

Far from a parents' action group, this is yet another futile attempt by the council to gain support for its absurd plans to improve education in the borough by closing its best school.

The fact is that they all know full well by now that a Foundation status Hurworth School will not be forced into an academy against its will and they are now lobbying for a new academy for Eastbourne. - Sheila Draper, Hurworth.

TOWN CRIER

ONCE again the Leader of Darlington Borough Council has used the Darlington Town Crier for propaganda. Does this leader really live in the real world?

I understand the council tax is going up again in the region of five per cent just to keep it within the Government's guidelines. This increase will mean the council tax has risen by somewhere in the region of 80 per cent since 1997.

We have the modernisation of the town centre which the majority of the townsfolk don't want. But will the council listen? No.

We are spending £5m on the Dolphin Centre when I'm quite sure all it really needs is some fine tuning ie: lockers that work, more showers, certainly in the dry sports area and a spring clean.

One more thing for now. Could someone please tell me what is the percentage of people employed by Darlington Council in relation to the population?

It seems every time we open The Northern Echo more people are required by the council and let's not forget the population of Darlington hasn't changed so much for a long time.

So why is the extra staff required? But let's not forget this is a Labour Council and they can spend money - our money. - Name and address supplied.

PROUD OF AREA

I HAVE lived all my life in the Eastbourne area of Darlington I have been disgusted with the way members of Share have tried to create a stand-off between my community and people living in Hurworth over the planned academy, especially suggesting the proposed site is dangerous.

This area is close to where I live and, far from being dangerous, my children play there and as a family we all visit the nature reserve nearby.

I am proud to live in this area of Darlington and it would be great for this community to be able to use the facilities promised by an academy.

I cannot believe that the majority of people in Hurworth do not also want to see the academy built. Their secondary school is falling down just as ours is.

What kind of parent not only decides their child should not benefit from such a fantastic investment in their education but also lies about another community which IS keen to give its children the best? - Mr P Jamieson, Darlington

INFO SESSIONS

I HAVE attended a number of information sessions, heard Share's arguments against the academy proposal and have read letters in The Northern Echo talking about the council's alleged misinformation.

I would like to make it clear that Share is just as guilty of misleading people.

I am sick of hearing about Hurworth being Darlington's top performing secondary school - by my reckoning it wasn't even the second best in this year's GCSE results (when you take into account the all important subjects of English and Maths).

Share needs to realise that education in Darlington does not centre around Hurworth. Other schools are quietly getting on with the job of educating their pupils and doing a much better job than Hurworth, which seems to have reached a plateau with its results.

If the academy means all Darlington's improving and high achieving schools can work closely together, then I welcome it and feel dreadfully sorry for those in Hurworth who have alienated themselves and future generations in the village from a huge investment in education. - Ms E Duncan, Darlington.