IF the decision that the cabinet of the new Durham County Council has made in awarding the next Durham park-and-ride contract to Arriva (Echo, June 18) is anything to measure performance by, it does not bode well for council tax payers in this area.

Despite the financial common sense and the much-publicised public opinion against Arriva, those vested with the power at County Hall choose to ignore us.

Although somewhat annoyed, I am not surprised. The ruling party at County Hall are of the same ilk as those governing this country – cut from the same shabby, threadbare cloth. Once elected they are not interested in what we think and often treat the electorate with disdain and contempt.

However, what goes around comes around and although there is no doubt that those in power at Westminster will not be returned at the next General Election you cannot forecast the same result at our next local election. We have got into the bad habit of returning the same party over and over again.

I therefore implore those, and there are many, who are unhappy at this ridiculous decision to consider this when voting. If you do not want the behaviour of an ass, then don’t vote for a donkey.

W Scarlett, Spennymoor, Co Durham.