AFTER reading an article by Owen Amos (Echo, some editions, Aug 11), regarding the reason why developer George Wimpey reneged on promised football pitches at South Park, Darlington, I feel I must reply.

Here is a building firm whose parent company made £141m profit before tax in the first half of this year, pulling out of a deal to build a pavilion, five football pitches and a cricket pitch, because it thought it was going to cost too much.

Did the builder pull out of its side of the bargain before it started building its houses?

I bet not. My question is: was there no contract signed between Wimpey and Darlington Borough Council, and did not Wimpey look into the cost before negotiations began?

Once again, the borough council has led the people of Darlington up the garden path. Now we are able to have only two football pitches, no mention of a cricket pitch. I think it is a disgrace. No one should be able to go back on an agreement. No wonder George Wimpey declined to comment in your story.

Mike Sinclair, Darlington.

IT seems builder George Wimpey has simply decided it is too expensive and backed out of an agreement over promised football pitches at South Park, Darlington.

Under a Section 106 agreement it was agreed that in return for being allowed to build 73 dwellings and 60 apartments on the old Cleveland Bridge sports ground, Wimpey would build a pavilion, five football pitches and a cricket pitch at South Park.

This is the same George Wimpey, whose parent company made £141m pre-tax profit in the first half of the year, which says it's now too expensive.

Instead, Darlington Borough Council has decided to let Wimpey off with paying £511,000 towards an £850,000 sports pavilion and centre for people with learning disabilities and the council will foot the balance and the number of pitches will remain at two.

I would now make it policy that any Section 106 agreement must be completed before any development is allowed to start. The council should make Wimpey pull the houses down. It soon would have found the promised funding then.

Since when do developers dictate to councils?

This is an example of why our children have nothing to do and nowhere to go, thus turning to drink and drugs and anti-social behaviour.

Ian White, Hurworth, near Darlington.