WHEN communities pull together, powerful results can be achieved – and that’s what happened 30 years ago when a letter published in a local newspaper inspired the people of the Darlington area to establish their own hospice.

Yvonne Rowe’s letter in The Northern Echo’s sister paper, The Evening Despatch, led to a public meeting on February 5, 1986, and so began a movement to launch St Teresa’s Hospice.

St Teresa’s staff and supporters, along with civic dignitaries, gathered at Darlington Town Hall today to mark the 30th anniversary of that special meeting. It was a timely reminder that ordinary citizens can really make a difference when they unite behind a campaign.

The Northern Echo is committed to supporting St Teresa’s anniversary year – and we are also committed to a new campaign, launched this week in response to the latest austerity cuts which threaten to undermine the identity of Darlington as an historic market town.

We cannot simply shrug our shoulders at the grim prospect of library closures and the loss of a Victorian covered market, which could – and should – have been a treasured centre-piece of the town’s retail offer had it not been for a lack of vision over decades.

On Thursday, when the depth of the cuts was revealed, we launched a petition, calling on the Government to review a funding formula which discriminates heavily against councils in the north. Within 24 hours, more than 5,000 had signed the petition. It is a cracking start which shows how strongly local people feel. But we need the momentum to continue if we are to force a parliamentary debate.

It is not just about Darlington. The market town is just one example of a northern community facing disproportionate cuts to its services, amenities and heritage.

If you believe the cuts are unfair, the link to the petition can be found on the home page of our website (www.northernecho.co.uk)