QUAKERS

GOOD LUCK to Darlington FC today against Kidderminster Harriers.

Even with a limited capacity for the grand opening of our new stadium, I am sure that the home fans will raise the roof in vocal support of Neil Maddison and the boys.

If we continue to show our support in big numbers, then this may persuade the chairman to sign the four decent players that we currently need to gain promotion. Good luck, lads, as I think that we will need it. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.

ROAD SAFETY

IN HIS letter (HAS, Aug 11), Ray Blythe suggests that Stockton Pedestrians Group is concerned with only one way in which the law is being ignored by many motorists.

We are particularly concerned with the High Street situation because it has been bad since it was "pedestrianised" in 1995. We understand that although accidents causing injury have fallen, three pedestrians have been killed since then.

The enforcement of the original Traffic Regulation Order was inadequate, and the situation has not improved since the revised orders were introduced in September 2002 with improved signage.

Stockton council's Walking Strategy states: "Walking should be safe, convenient, attractive and encouraged." Our group wholeheartedly supports these aspirations. We want:

* Safe road crossings for pedestrians wherever required;

* Adequately maintained pavements free from dangerous 'trips';

* Roads and pavements free from litter and dog mess;

l The layout of the stalls in the markets reviewed to make the area more user friendly and more readily accessible for wheelchair users and those pushing childrens' buggies. - Ron Atkinson, Chairman, Stockton Pedestrians Group (www.communigate.co.uk/ne/stocktonpedestriansgroup)

COLBURN

RICHMONDSHIRE council has approved are plans for a bulk recycling holding plant to be built on the lorry park at Colburn.

The people of Colburn do not want it. A 800-page petition has been ignored and a meeting has been held in the village hall. At the council meeting which approved the plan, we have been told that one councillor was asleep and was woken to vote by another councillor phoning him and telling him to get to the meeting to make sure the proposal was granted planning permission. It is disgusting that the meeting was held in this manner when this issue was of such importance to the people of Colburn. - T Amos, Colburn.

JOHNNERS

I CANNOT believe the review of the book Johnners that you published (Echo, Aug 12). Your "reviewer" confessed that she had not even bothered to read the book. She prattled on about cricket, obviously not realising that although Brian Johnston was associated mainly with cricket in his later years, he was an accomplished broadcaster in the 1950s and 1960s presenting Down Your Way and other programmes. He was the Michael Parkinson in his day.

I have not read the book, like your "reviewer", but in printing the "review" you have done both your newspaper and Brian Johnston a disservice. - Philip Knowles, Eppleby, Richmond.

VIDEO GAMES

I READ the letter saying the "experts" were wrong to say that violent video games are not responsible for people's undoings (HAS, Aug 4).

This is the attitude of someone looking around for a scapegoat.

I am a huge video game fan and I love horror movies as well. But I like a lot of other things as well (animation, books, etc) and in no way have these violent things made me violent or aggressive. I HATE violence.

A while back I was set upon by a guy looking for a fight. Being a fan of violent movies and games, you'd think that was his mistake but I did not raise a fist at all. I was actually very shaken up by the experience. But looking for scapegoats won't help.

You can point the finger at any game or movie you want, but you have to blame the person not the games. People who act out what they see are obviously mentally unhinged to begin with.

The experts are right. These games don't make "people" violent. It is a different matter, though, for those with no sense of reality - and that includes people who think that entertainment industries are responsible for our problems. - Name supplied, Darlington.

EU CONSTITUTION

IT IS indeed regrettable that not everyone has time to read all of the draft EU constitution (HAS, Aug 13). It reveals an alarming loss of control by nation states in favour of central government by the EU.

Messrs Blair, Hain and your correspondent Mr Morehead say that it is a tidying up operation that does not warrant a referendum. Contrary to Mr Morehead's example from the draft, I offer: "The constitution and union shall have primacy over the law of member states".

With the removal of the national veto to be replaced by qualified majority voting in most areas, the member states will be left "emasculated" as Peter Hain said.

The British public must take an interest in this loss of power by stealth, and insist we have a referendum on an issue with profound implications for parliamentary democracy and the principle of self government. - J Heslop, Gainford.