COULD I take this opportunity to thank all those who helped elect me as Mayor of Middlesbrough?

My first thanks must go, of course, to my family and my campaign team, without whose unstinting support and encouragement I would not have been able to contemplate standing for office, let alone achieve this success.

However, I am sure that they will not object if I reserve my greatest thanks for the people of Middlesbrough. Their votes made it clear that they wanted to see change in the Town Hall, openness, honesty and commitment from their elected representatives to ensure efficiency, effective services and clear vision from their local authority.

It is now my job to repay the trust which the citizens of Middlesbrough have placed in me.

I hope to do so with the support of all those - elected members, the council workforce and partner organisations - who, like me, have the best interests of Middlesbrough as their highest priority.

We must all fulfil the trust placed in us.

Everyone in Middlesbrough can be assured that I am working hard to achieve the goals they have set for me and that I will keep them informed of progress towards them. - Ray Mallon, Mayor of Middlesbrough.

ROAD SAFETY

I WOULD like to express my concern about the new design of pedestrian crossings that have appeared in Darlington recently.

The lack of an audible "beep" and also the lack of the flashing man facing you at the opposite end of the road represent a fatal accident waiting to happen.

I was using the new crossing on Victoria Road (near Safeway) the other day and noticed an elderly lady panicking because she was unsure whether or not it was safe to cross. As there were several people nearer to the post where the indicator is placed it was difficult for her and many others to see whether the man was red or green. There were also people who were crossing before the red man turned to green, therefore giving the elderly person and others a misleading view of the exact traffic situation at the time.

It would be interesting to note whether or not the police or the HSE had any input with these new-design pedestrian crossings, or whether it's a cost cutting exercise by the department responsible.

If the latter is correct it is very sad, as I feel certain that before too long, unless the safety shortfalls are addressed, we will see one of many fatalities on Darlington's roads. - John H Thomas, Darlington.

I AGREE with your correspondent (HAS, May 13) about the fence outside Station View Medical Centre in Escomb Road, Bishop Auckland.

It is the best thing that has happened since I moved there in 1979.

I too was amazed to learn that it had to be removed. I have made my views known to the practice manager and the chairman of the planning committee.

I have also told them my views about the dangers of parked cars in Escomb Road - a main road and bus route - especially parking near exits/entrances to car parks and the dangers to pedestrians trying to get from one path to the next (same side) from vehicles entering/leaving the car parks.

Do we have to have an accident before something is done? Will it be any better when the new hospital is finished?

How bus drivers manage along there I just don't know. - Ethel Dobson, Bishop Auckland.

COUNCIL FINANCE

I DON'T always agree with Jim Tague, but on the question of the PCs for Durham County councillors, I wholeheartedly supports his views on this matter (HAS, May 13).

If Darlington councillors tried to do this I would feel absolutely disgusted and would call for resignations.

In my opinion, this business is serious enough for the council taxpayers of the Durham area to demand the decision to provide these PCs to be rescinded forthwith.

If the councillors dig in their heels, then the taxpayers should call for their resignations and, if that fails, then vote them out at the next election, but that would be too late.

Talk about bringing local government into disrepute. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

CARE HOME

I feel the need to express my concern over the imminent closure of Stoneleigh Residential Home in Barnard Castle, where my 91-year-old father has lived for the last year.

This has become his home after many years of independence. He now needs the care that Stoneleigh provides, as do all of the residents.

I have recently had a letter from Durham County Council that the latest date for closure is September 30, 2002. In this letter, I was informed that ten sites had been reviewed and none found suitable for the building of a new residential home. I find this hard to comprehend, and an insult to the intelligence of the residents and relatives involved.

I am in the process of contacting RAGE (Relatives Action Group for the Elderly) who have been instrumental in preventing the closure of other care homes under threat.

Having spoken to certain people, the impression is that it is Government policy to close our care homes. Is it? Does the Government of this country really want to see our elderly people put out of what is a superb, caring, establishment to then fend for themselves? - George Hadden. Winsford, Cheshire.