THE dispute about the Darlington covered market public conveniences highlights the great dilemma with local politics; sadly local politicians lack imagination.

Generally the people involved are those who were milk monitors or prefects at school.

Busybodies and jobsworths, the men like wearing badges and usually have key rings dangling from their waistbands while the women like wearing hats.

Public toilets in a town of 100,000 residents are not optional extras.

However, ice skating rinks, sandpits, social functions, twinning and councillors’ clothing allowances are.

For my wife and I, the choice is simple, we no longer visit Darlington.

We’re not incontinent or frail but I’m not prepared, in an emergency, to defecate in the gutter, I’ve seen enough of that in India.

And don’t even get me started on the withdrawal of free swimming for pensioners. The swimming pools are there, so are the attendants, the leisure centre cafes open, it gets pensioners out socially and keeps them fit enough to remain independent.

And what do the councillors see?

They simply see costs disappear in one column but lack the imagination to see the benefits that might accrue by taking a different option. I’d stand myself but there isn’t a Contrarian Party.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland.