DARLINGTON has always been an attractive market town, praised many years ago in John Horsley’s poem for its church spires and some green fields.

Sadly, plans agreed by Darlington Borough Council no longer promote beauty.

Stand by the River Skerne or on St Cuthbert’s Way and you will find the spires of St Cuthbert’s Church, St John’s Church and the town clock have disappeared from the horizon behind new multistorey office blocks.

It is obvious that monetary gains for the council rather than the town’s welfare has led to many of the unwanted changes.

For example, when our Labour councillors heard that £3.7 million was available for Darlington to spend as part of the Tees Valley Bus Improvement Programme, they immediately submitted plans for the Stonebridge alterations without giving any thought to the effect this would have on town centre trade.

To remain in business, traders must retain their existing customers - impossible with roads grid-locked, reduced parking and traffic enforcement.

To help traders, grants are available.

The owners of Lingfield Point received £45,000 in 2013 and £80,000 in 2014 from the Arts Council to fund the organisation of the Festival of Thrift attended by 25,000 visitors last year.

Surely the council could arrange similar events in the town square (before it becomes a building site) and if Middlesbrough can obtain £3.9m to refurbish its historic town hall where is Darlington’s request for the indoor market/old town hall?

We all remember the funds for the brick train.

Darlington residents are no longer master of their own destiny and, with the front door of the town hall recently locked to stop entrance/interference from residents, we may never find out what will happen next.

Jean Jones, Darlington.