UPON my return from holiday I found a leaflet on the mat from Durham City Lib Dem leader Fraser Reynolds.

It states: "The Labour Government... has confirmed that it will impose a unitary authority on County Durham, despite 76 per cent of residents voting against it."

This is a shocking misrepresentation of the truth.

It then gets even worse by asserting: "The people of County Durham have made it very clear that they do not want a unitary council."

Well, Coun Reynolds, how come a 30 per cent vote (being about 76 per cent of the 40 per cent who cared enough to return their paper) in favour of your proposition equates to a majority? Can't you simply admit that your argument has insufficient weight and that further posturing will merely cause aggravation and cost council tax payers more money?

A true leader would grit his teeth and work towards obtaining the best deal possible for his constituency.

Please have the good grace to back down and get on with the task of making the new council better than the old.

David Lacey, Newton Hall, Durham.

LIB DEM Councillor Vince Perkins (HAS, Aug 24) beggars belief. If he and his colleagues on Wear Valley council believe their present remoteness will only increase under a unitary authority why on earth was this not mentioned during the North East Assembly debate?

Why did he and his then local leader, who was vice-chairman of the North East Assembly, not speak up?

What has provoked Coun Perkins into raising his concerns now contrary to that of his party and former leader? Could it be selfpreservation?

I, too, believe the unitary authority will dilute public accountability and create a oneparty dictatorship.

Councillors should be listening to the people. It is their actions contrary to this advice that caused such poor turnouts in the May local elections (Escomb was 36 per cent).

Is it only when their own positions are threatened do they start rattling their sabres?

Peter Laws (Conservative Candidate in Escomb Ward), Bishop Auckland.