AS an ex-inmate/employee who worked at Durham County Hall for 35 years, I read the plan for its redevelopment with a degree of amazement (Echo, Jan 10).

According to it, Aykley Heads has been chosen for its road and rail links – mmm. Approximately, one in two trains from London stops at Durham because it’s too small. I agree the roads are good – until you reach the outskirts of Durham, at least.

When was the last time anyone who wrote the plan tried to get out of County Hall and through the city centre at peak times? The roads and bridges can’t even cope with the current traffic.

The figures for the movement of the council’s offices from Aykley Heads are also interesting – only £50m to knock it down! I’m with Councillor John Shuttleworth on this – the figures presented need proper scrutiny.

If County Hall has a £26.3m worth of maintenance backlog, did this “backlog” affect the health and safety of the employees and what was this money actually spent on?

Perhaps if the maintenance had been done, County Hall would now be “fit for purpose” – oh, but wouldn’t that negate one of the reasons for moving.

Paul Turner, Darlington