RAIL SERVICES

I FAIL to see how a fine of £2m imposed on Arriva (Echo, Oct 26) will help to recruit the required number of drivers or alleviate the worsening situation for passengers.

Regarding the comments of Peter Lawrence of Railfuture, in modern parlance, where is he coming from? To suggest that handing over the franchise to another company would solve the situation is just sheer poppycock. Would a different company just suddenly rustle up the number of drivers required to run a proper service?

He obviously has not got the first idea about running a railway and the time it takes for a newly-recruited driver to learn to drive a train safely, to learn routes and be totally competent in rules and regulations.

If suggestions like this were adopted I am afraid there would be no future for our railways at all. - AL Rowntree, Wigginton, York.

FIREWORKS

AS I write this, our dog is sitting under my desk, panting with terror, as she has been every evening for the last two weeks.

The nightly barrage of fireworks began at four o'clock this afternoon. As the fireworks are being let off in the street, I have kept my daughters indoors for fear of the havoc which may be wreaked by one of these devices.

I can think of no good reason why I deserve to be scared of going outdoors, nor why my dog and every other dog in England should be grovelling in terror for three weeks out of every year.

I am voicing the feelings of many parents and dog owners; why can we not ban the sale of fireworks to the general public?

Whatever legislation there currently is must be worse than useless, as the problem grows from year to year.

I assure you, I am not one of those curious people who thinks that animals should have more rights than humans; I am simply tired of confining my children to the house and seeing my dog become ill with fear. - Ms MR Abbey, Darlington.

LORD HAILSHAM

CLASSICAL scholar Lord Hailsham (HAS, Oct 25), was renowned for his ability to talk just as lucidly as he could write; a rare talent.

Mind you, his lordship's academic prowess seemed pretty much divorced from any common sense, which was lacking when he donned a cloth cap for the sole purpose of telling the workers 'Up North' that he himself was really one of them.

Silly man; the lads saw through this theatrical stuff at once, despite their lack of a classical education.

In short, Lord Hailsham lacked the common touch, while lacking nothing much else. - Alfred H Lister, Guisborough.

ROAD PLANS

AS A devoted Darlingtonian, I have always supported my home town in all it has to offer. But one aspect where the town hall has failed its citizens is in its organisation of the roads and thoroughfares.

As a frequent car driver, I am often dismayed to encounter yet another scheme that hinders vehicles, instead of aiding them: the chicane on Widdowfield Street, bollards on Harris Street, the narrowing of the ring road, and speed bumps on important link roads.

Is this council aware that Darlington's traffic is on the increase? That lorries and buses still need space to manoeuvre? That workers need more time to get to and from work?

More attention should be given to the process of moving traffic instead of blocking its path. Of course, safety is paramount, but why penalise sensible drivers? Why not police our roads efficiently to aid motorists? - Dave Cadman, Darlington.

IRELAND

E REYNOLDS writes about the Irish problem (HAS, Oct 26), where he compares the British people living in Ireland with the Irish people living in Britain.

As an Englishman who has never been in Ireland, I do know that prior to 1922, we the British occupied the whole of Ireland, all 32 counties. Then, in our magnanimity, we decided to return 26 counties to Ireland, keeping the six northern counties for ourselves, now known as Ulster.

To keep those six counties was an act of stupidity which must rank as the most momentous blunder of all time, as events have proved time after time.

E Reynolds talks about 'when unification takes place' and will the Irish Garda patrol the streets of London? Rubbish!

The government of the Irish Republic has stated quite clearly that a united Ireland is no longer on the agenda. - Peter Mortimer, Easington.

AIR TRAVEL

JUST had a week in Crete. Lovely place, sunny, etc.

The jet from Newcastle was modern and efficient with videos and radio but, for a four-hour flight, the seats were very cramped. My knees jammed against the seat in front, my elbows jammed against the next person. The holiday company maximises the profit it can make by getting as many people as possible on the flight and I hope they stay in business in the uncertain future. But the seating needs a rethink. - F Atkinson, Shincliffe.

EUROPE

IT is apparent from the tone of some letters on this page that some people in the North-East feel in the dark about Europe and the work that your euro MPs do on your behalf in the European Parliament.

I produce a monthly Strasbourg Report which gives an overview of the Parliament's work and is sent out by email. If any of your readers would like to receive a copy, please contact my office on gadammep@aol.com with your email address and I will put you on the mailing list. - Gordon Adam, MEP