HOUSE OF LORDS: NOW that the House of Lords has shown its total disregard for democracy by trying to treat with absolute contempt the wishes of the people over the issue of hunting with hounds, is Tony Blair at last going to replace this House with a democratic branch of Parliament?

The last I heard, Mr Blair was justifying a pointless war by stating it was to overthrow unelected leaders who had no regard for the wishes of their people. - Norman Smith, Newton Aycliffe.

MARGARET HASSAN

HOW very sad it is to hear that Margaret Hassan has been brutally murdered amongst the people she so exceptionally cared for and dedicated her life to.

It just goes to show that George Bush and Tony Blair are right that there should be no negotiating with terrorists, no matter what their religious beliefs.

They should be hunted out and destroyed before they destroy us. - Mel Auton, Ingleby Barwick.

Darlington TOWN CENTRE

DARLINGTON Liberal Democrats wish to add their voice to the growing chorus of those opposed to the council's plans for the High Row area.

The council says it is consulting - but will it listen?

In the 1970s it wanted to move the indoor and outdoor markets to a new concrete building and open space behind where the Dolphin Centre now stands.

It was forced to back down then - it's up to us to make it back down now.

This new scheme, like the one in the 1970s, threatens the unique Victorian character of our town. The council is reintroducing a Victorian style to South Park, but seeking to rip it out of our town centre.

We want to restore the High Row with sympathetic paving, planting and street furniture, not provide water features which attract litter and kids with bottles of washing-up liquid. This is so retro, so "1960s New Town".

We want a rebuilt bus station where all buses would terminate - Crown Street is clearly unsuitable - and an environmentally friendly bus shuttle service around the town centre, but away from the pedestrian heart.

We want park and ride schemes to take traffic away from our town centre.

We want a pedestrianised town, but one with tradition and style. - Mike Barker, Darlington Liberal Democrats.

AS a visitor, I think Darlington still has a fine balance of a market town and shops of character. A feel that Stockton, in its race to be trendy and pedestrianised, has lost.

Stockton's older generation, who have pride in their town, still mourn the loss of history, character and heart, while the younger people have no deep connection with today's High Street of banks, bingo, building society, fast-food outlets and '£ shops'.

Darlington is visited for its charm, ambience and character. Have pride in your town, for once it's gone, nothing can replace.

If it ain't broken, don't fix it. - R Harbron, Norton.

REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

SHADOW Regions Minister, Bernard Jenkin, was quoted as saying that, "existing regional assemblies have no accountability, no mandate and no legitimacy."

We expect therefore, the first significant gesture to be made by the North-East Tories in two ways:

1. Unilateral resignation by all Conservatives from the unelected North-East Assembly immediately (and all the other assemblies across the country);

2. Immediate calls to halt the use of taxpayers' money to fund these unwanted organisations.

I am sure that the 700,000 people who voted No to an elected assembly in the North-East will be seething to see that they have been conned and that the gravy train funded with £1m of our money exists despite the emphatic "will of the people" against such a regional body.

There can be no justification whatsoever for its continued existence.

We will not tolerate the existence of the unelected assembly and will expose any North-East council that continues to fund it.

I am sure that there are many worthy community projects across the region that could benefit from the taxpayers' money given to this unnecessary body. - Neil Herron, Campaign Director, North East No Campaign.

AIRPORT

BEING a frequent traveller, and having toured a large amount of Europe during the summer, I have found Durham Tees Valley's transport links the worst I have encountered.

Last weekend I took advantage of Ryanair's cheap flights to Dublin and, having returned on Tuesday morning, planned to take the bus from the airport to Middlesbrough.

After waiting over 50 minutes for the bus, I was informed by a member of the airport staff, that this bus "usually doesn't turn up".

The airport has no direct transport link to Durham - the new name of the airport - and even if the bus to Middlesbrough turns up, it would take one hour to get there.

I was left with no option but to go to Darlington, then on to Middlesbrough, a journey which took me two hours 40 minutes, in effect to travel less than ten miles.

The new airport name might attract more tourists to the region, but from my experience, they won't visit again. - Billy Snook, Middlesbrough.

STAN LAUREL

A £20,000 Stan Laurel hat for Theatre Corner certainly leaves me scratching my head in disbelief, since a recent request (in the aftermath of playground closures) for money for the children of our estate drew a blank from Groundwork West Durham.

I'm in favour of celebrating our history, but suggesting that a hat is part of promoting the town is ridiculous. How would this project divert tourists off the beaten track where Auckland Castle, the historical home of the Bishop of Durham, would not?

Townsfolk kept in the dark, consultation on their terms, the local branch of the Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society contacted far too late, all the hallmarks of the political class that rule Wear Valley, typical self-righteous drivel. I suggest you try getting out a bit more.

Until these people realise that droves of families leave the town every weekend, while others bypass it to spend their hard-earned cash elsewhere, they'll never realise the potential of this town. Offer families and teenagers some hope, and at the very least involve these people in the future of the town.

How about using local schoolchildren to do an independent study of the town and its requirements? - Jim Tague, Bishop Auckland Conservatives.