Safe colour: I think that Durham City Council is right to pursue a colour policy for its taxis, and white is a good safety colour.

We often hear stories about young women getting into cars which they mistakenly think are taxis, particularly in the early hours of the morning and they end up getting into serious trouble. Some people think that this is trivial and any old colour will do, but I think that Durham deserves better.

B Gilmore, Witton Gilbert

Bus lanes: Do we want more queues and greater congestion on our roads?

This is what could happen if the county council's scheme goes ahead to create a bus lane on part of the busy A690 into Durham (see Page 17). They say this will aid the park-and-ride planned in Belmont, cutting down on traffic. However, I see it having the opposite effect, creating more congestion.

Many people, like myself, need their cars for work and would not use the park-and-ride, therefore the queues at rush hours would increase, as everything except buses would be squeezed into one lane instead of two.

Please council, reconsider. Scrap the bus lane as it will cause traffic chaos and increase the risk of accidents.

Mrs R Porter

Belmont

Rubbish-in-waiting

With the county council having restricted snow clearing to main roads only, the two-day delay in the emptying of wheelie bins in some residential streets was understandable.

However, Premium Waste Management's 14-day extension to its normal 14-day collection interval seems unjustifiable.

Now, hundreds of boxes may have to stand out for up to two weeks awaiting emptying or householders returning them to their premises.

My wife protested about returning the out box of water drenched items to the garage so instead these were consigned to our wheelie bin in the back garden where the rubbish is protected from winds, vermin, magpies and cats and out of public view.

The public accepts the need for recycling, but PWM should appreciate that its boxes do not enhance the local environment and that many householders spend time packing papers, rinsing tins and bottles and tearing cellophane windows from envelopes.

Therefore PWM should try to match the efficiency of the council's disposal officers, whose bin emptying is prompt and predictable.

M D Chadwick, Durham City

Fairtrade support

I am delighted that Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council has declared its support for the Fairtrade Foundation.

Fairtrade works to ensure that farmers in developing countries are paid a fair price for the food they produce. The foundation has the support of many organisations including councils, churches and charities.

I hope that this will be an important step on the way to Durham becoming a Fairtrade city, as several other British towns and cities have done.

Anyone wanting to get involved or find out more about Fairtrade's excellent work can do so by visiting the www.fairtrade.org.uk web site

Richard Ormerod

Oakenshaw

Police rates

I fail to see how Chief Constable Paul Garvin can justify a rise in rates to meet police expenditure, when it is a well known fact that some policemen retire in their early fifties with a good pension then take on a second job.

We ordinary pensioners have to live on a modest income and still pay our way.

R Harrison

Blackhill

Hunting ban

RE the ban on hunting with dogs, a message to the Government and the police - make sure that you enact the law. No excuses because you had no trouble implementing it against all of the mining community during the miners strike.

R Drion

Durham