Market Place

The eight Durham county councillors (six Labour, one Liberal Democrat and one Independent) who voted in favour of destroying the city’s heritage were apparently identified as: Ronnie Rodgers, of Meadowfield; Mamie Simmons of Newton Hall; David Boyes; of Easington; Keith Davidson; of Chester-le-Street; Mike Dixon; of Aycliffe; Eddie Tomlinson, of Crook; Ossie Johnson; of Lanchester; and Richie Young, also of Lanchester. Remember them.

Their personal reputations rely on the modernised Market Place meeting with widespread public acclaim upon completion.

If they have got it wrong their political heads should roll.

Councillors in turn should remove the relevant county council officers if the promised financial benefits and extended events programme fail to live up to expectations. Wasting more than £5m of taxpayers’ money should be a sackable offence. No question.

Unfortunately, Durham City Vision and its director, Harvey Dowdy, cannot be held to account in the same way which is why the Conservative pledge to disband expensive, useless quangos and redirect increasingly scarce resources has great merit and should be adopted by all political parties.

Stephen Lester, Durham.

I AGREE with Mayor of Durham Denis Southwell who is saddened by Government approval to move the man on the horse statue – and for 99 per cent of the public that’s all he is – from his rightful place in Durham Market Place (Echo, Jan 21).

When this “Visioning” exercise started we had a group of people called “The Durham Voices”; well, no one is listening to the people of Durham now.

Funding to develop the area was assured before there was any mention of moving the Market Place statues and a performance space can easily be created outside Nat West bank.

For us locals, sitting around the statue – either watching the world go by, nervously awaiting that first date, or meeting up with friends – is our special place, full of memories for many generations.

Alderman Fraser Reynolds, Durham.