IN the last three-and-a-half years, Darlington council has implemented a lot of new regulations about taxis, sometimes consulting with the taxi trade, but most of the time without. For example, the colour red, and advertising.

From September 2000, the Taxi Licensing Department only let bright red cars carry advertising. This caused a loss of revenue for many whose taxis were not the right colour. One taxi driver took the Department to court, risking everything he owned, and won - so any red-coloured taxi can carry advertising.

This court decision cost the Department a lot of money which the council tax payers will have to find.

Now the Department wants to bring in a Taxi Driving Standards Association test.

At a meeting the taxi drivers suggested bringing in the test for new drivers and any driver who has penalty points on their licence. This would improve the standards of taxi drivers.

The transport forum manager promised to keep us informed but, as usual, only five days notice was given and there was not enough time for us to do anything. The test will cost each driver £46.50. If a driver fails, he/she must retake and repay for the test until he/she passes. This could result in the driver losing his/her livelihood - and we all know how nerves and pressure can affect anyone.

The test has already caused another council to be taken to court by a taxi driver, and the driver won. Darlington's bylaws state that conditions cannot be imposed on existing hackney carriage drivers.

Darlington's enraged taxi drivers have joined together and will take the council to court. We would prefer to negotiate with the council.

The taxi drivers of Darlington welcome any tests or conditions that will improve public safety of their own. But why should a driver who has driven for many years safely without causing an accident be penalised? - R Stein, Darlington.

DARLINGTON COLLEGE

CONSIDERATION should be given to Darlington College of Technology remaining in its present location.

The majority of its student population is aged 14 to 16 and post-16. These students should not be isolated on the Yarm Road site, but centralised with access to all town centre facilities like the Sixth Form College and the Arts Centre.

There will be a great deal of added travelling for many students to go up to Yarm Road.

The loss of trade to outlets between Cleveland Avenue and the town centre has to be a real concern. A local mini-mart proprietor has sounded confident when quoted in The Northern Echo, but there are many shopkeepers who are not as confident.

The public may be more impressed if concerted efforts were made by planners to alleviate the problems of the existing site.

Parking is a major issue. It could be solved by a forward-thinking designer incorporating a car park and a new look for the college on the shambolic land that surrounds it.

The residents of the Yarm Road area must have grave concerns over the potential added congestion and the related issue of access for the emergency services.

Has comprehensive consideration been given to alternative venues which would not create such a traffic problems?

Let there be a fair and reasonable debate rather than a foregone conclusion. - L Holbrook, Darlington.

ALDERMAN LEACH SCHOOL

AT the council cabinet meeting which approved the moving of Cockerton's Alderman Leach School to a new site at West Park, we saw the members' total disregard for huge public opinion, but also for their own non-cabinet councillors.

At the recent public meeting, the ward councillor Bryan Thistlethwaite said his preference was for the school to be built on the existing site. His opinion obviously counts for nothing with his party and certainly not with his fellow ward councillor Paul Baldwin who sits on the cabinet and voted for the motion.

I thought the elected mandate for local councillors was to work for and with the public who elected them, not give in to a three-line party whip. - Bryan Stapley, Darlington.

TOWN CENTRE

I HAVE a number of points following the Echo Memories article (Nov 13) about the redevelopment of Darlington town centre.

1. Pedestrianisation is wonderful. For disabled people, especially in wheelchairs, it would be a good idea to have more better points of access.

2. It would be a downright shame if the Covered Market were ever demolished, as the plans of the 1960s and 1970s suggested. The town clock with the market give Darlington its only main piece of character. Whoever planned the town back then got it wrong. The old shop fronts of the 1960s were much more appealing, and would still have attracted tourism. Unfortunately, there are only a few left in Grange Road and Horsemarket. Darlington looks very much like any other town in the country.

3. Why is the new football ground being built in such a daft spot? There are going to be traffic problems at the A66 roundabout, and people around Geneva Road and Neasham Road will be inundated with cars parking. Why couldn't the old Feethams ground have been up-dated?

4. Darlington Bus Station - what a mess! It was quite nice when first built when there was a caf. But now you have to wait at cold bus stands. - Gloria Longstaff, Darlington.