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IAN WHITE (HAS, Page 10, Sept 4) debases the arguments in favour of an elected mayor.

He is economical with the truth when he quotes allowance figures.

No councillor "claims" remuneration - allowances are paid to a scale calculated by an independent panel from outside the council.

The mayor receives an allowance (some £19,000) to pay for and contribute to good causes and to provide hospitality for town hall visitors.

Most former mayors will state that, after taxation, there is little, if any, left at the end of their term of office. The figure Mr White quotes for last year has nothing to do with the mayoral office. In that year, my wife and I held positions of responsi- Hearallsides bility and received allowances for these according to the independent panel scale.

These posts will remain if there is an elected mayor, but the mayor will receive £80,000 per year and the council chairman will receive the special responsibility allowance equivalent to the present mayor.

The principal issue is whether an elected mayor will be good for democracy in Darlington.

To place total power into the hands of one person, instead of decisions by a majority vote of 53 elected councillors, is a dangerous proposition. To destroy a tradition dating from the late 19th Century will be folly. - Frank Robson, Darlington.

IT is vital that a people's mayor be elected for Darlington, after all the controversy that has been inflicted on the townsfolk over the past few years by Darlington Borough Council under the attitude of "this is what you are going to get, like it or not".

The Pedestrian Heart fiasco is one example when a petition of at least 4,000 residents against the scheme was ignored, resulting in an expensive cosmetic exercise of no benefit to anyone and which is even less userfriendly for the disabled and elderly shoppers.

The elected mayoral system works well in Hartlepool and, in particular, how residents have a say in the affairs of the town This was supported by a massive increase in votes for the mayor there during his re-election.

Unlike in Darlington, it would seem that democracy prevails in Hartlepool.

Frank Robson's letter (HAS, Page 11, Sept 1) tries to convince us of traditional mayoral values, but they are insignificant when it was his Darlington Borough Council planning committee that ignored some residents' advice and sanctioned the demolition of our Victorian heritage on High Row.

So, Mr Robson, a "Yes" vote for a people's mayor would help restore the democratic process in Darlington. - L Hume, Darlington.

I WAS interested to learn of the launch of a "Yes" campaign for an elected mayor in Darlington.

I really don't understand why anyone would like to give an individual the power to make decisions on behalf of the people of Darlington without the need for debate and the collective agreement of our representatives.

An elected mayor would take power away from our ward councillors, who are supposed to be able to represent our views and influence decisions on the council.

Small cabinets have been a retrograde step, in my view, but giving "the power to decide" to one individual is foolhardy.

Would anyone like to join me in launching a "No" campaign.

If so, contact me at noelected mayor@ntlworld.com - Martin Wood, Darlington