THE news that Darlington will be included in the new Tees Valley Combined Authority could provide much needed funding for the town.

However, the consultation process does seem to have been slightly flawed. With a total population for the new authority (Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar, Darlington and Hartlepool) of nearly 700,000 I am surprised that a survey which produced only 1,900 replies (and only 1,235 in favour) should be sufficient to bring about this important change. I response of 0.2 per cent would indicate that 99.8 per cent were not consulted.

Despite these misgivings, Darlington does need any funds available as the local council has proved incapable of attracting sufficient investment for all its schemes which has led to an increase in the town's debts over the past 20 years to nearly £200m plus interest.

Only last week we discovered the cost of the Beaumont Street multi-storey car park has soared from £6m to £8m. We need more than guesswork to attract Government funds.

The cost to the taxpayer of a new combined authority has not yet been supplied but I note that the intent is for this body to comprise just the leader of the council from each town.

We can only hope that it will not be just another quango and democracy will prevail to allow input from all the elected council members.

Jean Jones, Darlington.