FURTHER to the recent bus crash in Tubwell Row where members of the public were very lucky to avoid been badly hurt when a bus collided with a bus shelter.

Darlington badly needs a bus station.

Indeed, it used to have a bus station, in Feethams, which was knocked down and has not been replaced.

Since the old bus station was demolished buses are now flying all over the town, even in so-called pedestrian areas. Crown Street, near the public library, is like a Formula One racing circuit nowadays and pedestrians cross the road at their peril.

There have been numerous bus-related accidents over the years and yet Darlington Borough Council seems content to sit back and do nothing.

Most towns in the North- East have bus stations and even towns which are a lot smaller than Darlington have them.

Darlington Borough Council should hang its head in shame over the town centre; for not only do people have to pay high car-parking charges, when they come into shop they are hunted down by over-zealous parking attendants and they have to dodge the buses.

Personally, I travel into Middlesbrough to shop because car parking is free for two hours, the town centre is properly pedestrianised and they have a decent bus station.

However, I would prefer to shop in Darlington if they sorted the traffic mess out.

Alec White, Darlington.