HOSPITAL SERVICES

CONGRATULATIONS to all involved with both conception and implementation of all factors with bringing to fruition the birth of the new Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

It has been a facility long fought for by the electorate and political representatives of South West Durham, and which also took into account the expressed needs of the rural community.

The builders and architects especially must be complimented for their sensitivity of approach towards our medieval/Victorian town.

What could have become the usual nondescript, modern, utilitarian-looking edifice, is in fact a complimentary addition of which our planners can be justly proud. May they continue their steadfastness and commit the B&Qs to history.

I am sure there will be many envious onlookers noting this well-balanced project.

Let us all hope that Asda is respectfully mindful of our long history and architectural heritage. - CS Simons, Bishop Auckland.

I DISAGREE with your comment (Echo, Oct 31) that there is 'chaos at the region's newest hospital'.

Press coverage of the visit of the Health Select Committee to the University Hospital of North Durham failed to give a balanced view of the evidence given to the committee.

The Health Select Committee met a number of staff who emphasised that the new hospital is a significant improvement on the old Dryburn Hospital.

Unfortunately, media attention continues to focus on the snags which are inevitable in such a complex new building - however it is financed.

Staff have been fully involved in reviewing the facility both before and after the move into the new hospital and improvements are being made in the light of issues raised.

The University Hospital of North Durham is here for the next 60 years. To judge it on its first six months - as staff get used to it and problems are ironed out - is unreasonable. - Steven Mason, Chief Executive, North Durham Health Care NHS Trust, Durham.

ZURBURAN PAINTINGS

ETHEL Dobson is perfectly entitled to her view that the Zurburan paintings are 'treasures' (HAS, Oct 29) but not to misquote others who take the opposite view.

Nowhere have I criticised experts or the Church. I criticised an individual, Bishop Trevor, for quite disgraceful extravagance in pursuit of a private hobby at a time when there were large numbers of starving children, some doubtless in Bishop Auckland itself.

As for his purchase of the paintings being a public benefaction, I have the utmost difficulty in believing, given the well-known social attitudes of the time, that an 18th Century bishop would allow the public within a hundred yards of his palace, let alone invite them in to view his private art collection. - Tony Kelly, Crook.

ASYLUM REFORMS

THE leader writer (Echo, Oct 30) is once again making the asylum problem an issue of morality, while being undecided at what point it becomes an issue of responsibility the British nation can no longer be expected to accept without dire consequences for the future.

The question one must be asking is why are these large number of immigrants and asylum seekers travelling through other European countries determined to settle here, other than the fact we are a soft touch and the changes we are seeing are not going to change the situation.

I could understand it if the nation was a huge country and there were huge spaces to accommodate any open door policy, but the fact is, at the rate we are going, in a few years, Britain is heading for dire consequences never seen in our history.

While most of the population is against the madness that is being subjected upon them, they are being ignored by a meritocracy government and its ilk which has no respect for the future of the British way of life.

I suppose devolution is the start of our break-up.

Our public services are in crisis and getting worse and yet we are fobbed off with simplistic moral argument regarding asylum seekers. - John Young, Crook.

DRUGS REFORM

TO suggest that we make cannabis a permitted drug is the worst idea New Labour has ever had. Let the nation take a vote on it.

The truth is that cannabis wrecks lives and its decriminalisation could open the door to a new health problem. But we should be concerned about what substantial cannabis use will do to Britain's ability to work and study.

No good has come from the evil of cannabis. I would be interested to have a list of the life-enhancing properties its users say it has.

I take no drugs apart from tobacco, relying on herbalism and aromatherapy for all my kicks and I am not ashamed of how I live my life. - Aled Jones, Bridlington.

HOUSING PLANS

I ENTIRELY agree with those who are against the sale of land at Mowden Rugby Club for housing (Echo, Oct 23).

This is a heaven-sent opportunity to provide the Mowden/Hummersknott area with the community amenity which it sadly lacks.

People's current needs are more important that the provision of more housing in an already congested area. Darlington is currently losing all available open spaces to voracious developers.

Of course, the rugby club will want a fair price for its property: if the council can't find the wherewithal, what about making an application for Lottery money? - RK Bradley, Darlington.