DARLINGTON'S refurbishment with the completion of the pedestrian and market area is impressive. However, the town will always be hampered by its primitive communications.

Lack of a proper bus and coach station could be remedied by rebuilding on the semi-derelict Feethams garage site, with the improvement of adjacent parking.

The inner circle of roads need completion to connect Grange Road/Victoria Road with Woodland Road/St Augustine's Way, as was clearly originally intended.

The railway line from Saltburn and Middlesbrough needs upgrading. A tunnel to take it under the East Coast Main Line at Bank Top station would help. There could be an underground platform, or one adjacent to the present station. If this was run as a tram service every 15-30 minutes, much traffic could be taken off the roads.

An underground circuit Metro system could be built with seven stops - at Bank Top station, the bus and coach station, town centre, Sixth Form College and Arts Centre, Memorial Hospital, North Road train station, and Darlington College.

Consideration could also be given to a park-and-ride system, with car parks by Lingfield Estate, Harrowgate and the football stadium.

All these ideas together would make a wonderful transport system and boost the town.

Malcolm C Bateson, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham.