20/03/2006

A blitz now and again is not going to allay the fears and scepticism of what people see as a complete disregard by certain people of the rights of the majority to be able to move about their town without fear and intimidation.

When I walk around the town I see litter strewn about, a beck that is used as a tip and ignored by those whose job it is to keep it clean. We are supposed to have extra security in a warden service but the security of this town at nights and weekends is non-existent.

I never see any wardens or police except during the day. Law and order and the lack of any deterrent is a joke in this town and certainly needs to be addressed. - John Young, Crook.

GREAT ATHLETES

I WAS disappointed to see that The Northern Echo did not report on the tremendous success of North-East athletes at the Intercounties Cross-Country Championships at Nottingham.

In a weekend when our Premiership football teams disappointed again, our athletes were overlooked again.

The senior ladies only just managed to get a team together but stormed home to win the team prize.

Dominic Bannister proved his class by running a canny race and winning the senior men's event.

Ricky Stephenson from New Marske had a heroic race and led from the start only to collapse within sight of the finish, but he'll be back.

In the under-15 girls' race Laura Wheetman from Newcastle was the surprise winner with Kate Avery from Shildon in third place. Mark Shaw from New Marske also had an excellent race in the under-13 boys' event to finish second.

Some of these young athletes are future champions and have their eyes firmly focused on London in six years time.

So please support them and give them the coverage they so richly deserve.

It is surprising how they scan the column inches hungry to see their names in print. It gives them such a boost to be recognised in the Press. - Robin Rutherford, Darlington.

HUMAN TRIALS

YOUR readers will have read about the healthy volunteers who became seriously ill after being tested with a new anti-inflammatory drug (Echo, Mar 16) - a timely reminder about the shortcomings of using animals to develop new pharmaceutical drugs.

The drug that caused multiple organ failure in all six men had been approved for trial after being tested on animals.

Animal experiments tell us about animals, not about people. The results of animal studies can never guarantee the safety of human medicines or other products because of the fundamental biological, anatomical and biochemical differences between the species.

There are countless examples of drugs tested on animals that have been released as safe only to cause serious side effects and even death in humans.

New drugs are constantly being brought to the market and it is the responsibility of the government and pharmaceutical industry to use and develop new human-based test methods to prove their safety. Complex computer models, micro-dosing (which shows how drugs are metabolised), and microfluidic circuits are all cutting-edge non-animal alternatives that have been pioneered in the 21st century. It's long overdue that we leave antiquated animal tests where they belong - in the last century.

To learn more about drug reactions in humans and the short-comings of animal-based research, go to www.buav.org - Alistair Currie, Campaigns Director, The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection.

ARRIVA BUSES

I WOULD like to take this opportunity to clear up any confusion readers and customers may have about the reasons for Arriva's network revisions in the Tees Valley.

The revisions are based on a major piece of research carried out in 2005 that was commissioned by all the Tees Valley local authorities, was accepted by them - including Redcar and Cleveland - and was widely reported in the media.

Arriva has consulted council officers since before Christmas 2005. In addition to three meetings with Redcar and Cleveland, Arriva continually offered other opportunities for concerns to be raised - none of which were taken up by the authority.

Across the Tees Valley as a whole more passengers will see an improvement in service levels than those who will see reductions. The changes are designed to reflect where customers actually travel and recognise how populations have moved and decreased over the 20 years since the network was last designed.

Customers who would like full details of the network revisions or help with journey planning can contact Arriva direct on 08701 20 10 88. I hope this clarifies matters for your readers and our customers. - Steve Noble, Managing Director, Arriva North East.

MUDDY WATERS

NOBODY expects politicians to live in rundown housing or even modest places like the rest of us, but neither do we applaud their craven desires to own city mansions and country hideaways.

It is particularly distasteful when we see those with a left leaning political disposition becoming involved in dubious financial dealings which give an aura of deception and greed.

As in many financial investigations, the waters have been so deliberately muddied that the truth is hard to find.

The lady in question (Tessa Jowell) may feel she is off the hook, but I hope the media dig long and hard and deep to get to the bottom of this affair.

I find it very strange that Mr Blair can participate in the barbaric bombing of Iraqi civilians yet cannot dispense with the services of a recalcitrant member of his Cabinet.

Napoleon said he would rather face an army than a critical newspaper - so let's hope the media keeps up its campaign to compel Mr Blair to do the right thing. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

MANY THANKS

WE wish to say a big thank you to Guisborough Rugby Club where, last Friday, March 3, the Guisborough Big Band provided a wonderful evening of swing music for a very appreciative audience.

Thank you to the band, to John Lunn of Enfield Chase Butchers, who supplied the pies and peas, and to all those who tapped their feet, ate the pies, bought raffle tickets and cheered the band.

We raised the magnificent total of £450 - proving that we can make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged children in the UK and throughout the world. - NM Webb, Secretary, Guisborough Save the Children Group.

BUS PASSES

Do the pensioners of Darlington realise that they are at a big disadvantage regarding their bus passes?

All County Durham and Cleveland pensioners can travel anywhere in their counties. Where can we travel? Darlington only.

Had we stayed with Durham County we would have been much better off. - A Plant, Darlington.