Darlington TOWN CENTRE: Now that the people of Darlington have made their attitude and feelings quite clear over the question of a North-East assembly, I would now request them to make their feelings known regarding the proposed Darlington town centre regeneration.

There are similarities in behaviour and attitude between the current Labour Government and the Labour-controlled Darlington Borough Council. Neither are prepared to consult constructively with their constituents regarding major changes, both nationally and locally, hence the defeat of the proposed regional assembly.

What I hope the Darlington residents will say loud and clear is that the proposed alterations to the town centre are not acceptable and that they, the council, should consult with those who have the interest of maintaining the historical and architectural aspects of the town centre.

A word of warning to the council is, I believe, appropriate at this stage. Remember the Shepherd plan which a former council tried to impose upon the people of Darlington ie removal of the Market Square - those who fought its retention recall the protestation by the Labour Group, which was deafening by its silence.

To the residents of Darlington I say this - write to the council and indicate your disapproval at the way the council is attempting to impose a scheme that is bereft of the historical and cultural aspects of Darlington, that the residents of Darlington want to retain with the character and individualism that makes Darlington attractive and not mediocre in its presentation. - Tom H Peacock, Darlington.

REGIONAL GOVERNMENT

AGAIN we are told (HAS, Nov 12) that the reason for the rejection of the regional assembly was fear of another layer of government.

I believe the reason for the rejection was the contemptuous way people were treated.

We were never given any commitment. Opera singers, footballers, pop singers were paraded before us. The final insult came when this great issue was dragged down to a cheap political level. We were told it was simply a Tory-Labour thing.

The people showed that when great issues like this are at stake they vote as a people not as political groups.

We belong to one of the richest and most powerful nations in the world, that has been an influence for good throughout history and still continues to be so.

To reduce this great country into self-seeking regions would, in my opinion, be a crime against its people and make the world poorer.

I want a united England, governed by a government of whatever hue that will govern it justly and equably, ensuring an equal distribution of its wealth throughout.

I want a united England not only for the sake of my grandchildren, but to serve the world. - Raymond Gibbon, Witton Gilbert.

IT was great to read (Echo, Nov 9) solid common sense from the excellent Peter Mullen and also in Ms Robinson's letter.

As the Rev Mullen states, the people of the North-East have decisively and wisely halted the regional talking shop plan.

This scheme is more about regionalising the EU to enable greater control from Brussels than bringing more power to our local area.

If our Government had simply arranged an independent poll survey they would have known the futility of their project and saved several millions of our taxes.

Ms Robinson is right to ask whether we can have a referendum opportunity to liberate the UK from the hugely bureaucratic, inefficient and corrupt EU. Well not if Messrs Blair, Prescott and Co have their way, that's for sure.

Let's face it, Mr Blair did not ask our opinion about his going to Rome recently to sign up for even more Euroland interference. Wake up Britain, before it is too late. - Keith McAllister, Heighington.

IT'S almost a fortnight since people power in the North-East showed the Government its real strength in the region.

But our so-called representatives, our MPs, have been conspicuous in their silence. Are they more scared of offending party whips than congratulating the people they represent?

This should have sent a message to all MPs, especially in the North-East.

Get together, listen, fight for the North-East or you'll join the discredited regional assembly in the waste bin of politics at the next General Election. - R Harbron, Norton.

HEALTH SERVICE

IN the September 11 attack, 3,000 people died and Britain and America went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Government reaction to the nvCJD, which has claimed 110 confirmed deaths since 199l, is to decimate the British beef industry and introduce stringent new regulations for farmers and slaughterers.

A butcher sells some sandwiches causing an outbreak of E-coli and one or two people go down with a gippy tummy. His shop is closed and cannot reopen until Health and Safety public health inspectors and hygiene inspectors give it the all clear and he faces the threat of prosecution.

A conservative official number of 5,000 people die annually from MRSA, a bug caught in hospital, and the Government reaction is to appoint a supremo with the remit of cutting casualties by 50 per cent in 18 months.

Why 18 months? Why not 18 weeks or even 18 days?

Products that are supposed to kill all known germs are readily available. Hospital managers should get out of their offices, get down on the wards and make sure the wards are cleaned properly and smell of disinfectant instead of stale urine.

Beating MRSA is not rocket science, but basic good hygiene and housekeeping. - M Anderson, Consett.

CASH MACHINES

MILLIONS of pounds are stolen from cash machines from honest people by crooks using mini cameras and other devices to read the pin numbers.

So why do not banks who own the cash machines do something to deter the villains? Can they not also use technology not only to prevent the robberies but to actually catch them?

They could fit hidden cameras which will identify those putting the devices for stealing the pin numbers and record the finger prints of the crooks. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

JUSTICE SYSTEM

HAS anyone caught on yet at what the Law Courts are up to?

Judges hand down a sentence that they think will go part way to appeasing the public, but after five or six months, when the feelings of the people have quietened down, the criminal appeals and 99 times out of 100 will have their sentence reduced. Crafty or what?

One cannot criticise the judge for the length of the sentence in the first place but he knows it will be reduced if the criminal appeals, therefore easing the prison population, which is the root of the problem. Very cleverly thought out! - Ed Southgate, Stockton-on-Tees.