I AM sure the people of Weardale are, like me, appalled at the suggestions for the future of the now closed Eastgate cement works amounting to nothing more than daffodil growing and bee keeping.

These interests may be worthy, but are hardly adequate for the upkeep of our economy.

I have lived here for over 60 years and have suffered the conditions of dust, etc., but have overlooked these in the interest of work for the local population and beyond. Hopefully, some industry which would contribute to the local economy will be found.

In the meantime, it would be a wonderful gesture to make permanent provision for sports activities in the dale, possibly including a children's play area (that in the village being inadequate and presently having no equipment). There could also be a golf driving range and, as suggested, a winter sports run.

The quarry would lend itself to a huge garden development, like the Butchart Cement Gardens in Canada. These would serve as a proud and permanent reminder of this previous industry, give enjoyment to the locals as well as being another draw to the fast growing tourist industry.- K Ward, Eastgate, Weardale.

PAVEMENTS Darlington council has produced an excellent publication, Pavements for People. This sets out clearly and in simple terms the problems that pedestrians in Darlington face each day. What this document does not explain is how these problems are to be solved.

For example, paragraph 8.4 states: "The police can prosecute or issue fixed penalty tickets to cyclists riding on footways and footpaths."

New legislation will strengthen the Road Traffic Act 1998 to "allow police and civilian wardens to impound offenders' machines on the spot".

This begs the question, when can the law-abiding pedestrians in Darlington see some action taken against those cyclists who persist in flouting the law? - R Elliott, Darlington.

PRINCESS DIANA HOW can people be so fickle? Diana, Princess of Wales' death was a terrible tragedy for her family and our nation, but how can anyone rate her death as more significant than the outbreak of the Second World War (Echo, Aug 24)? Our fathers and grandfathers fought for this country. If it had not been for them winning and laying down their lives for us we would not have our royal family. Hitler would probably have killed us all. - K Stokoe, Quarrington Hill, Durham.

MEMORIAL HOSPITAL DURING my granddaughter's stay in Darlington Memorial Hospital, I had occasion to visit Hollies Restaurant on the lower ground floor, I was surprised to find an Internet Cafe, Cafeclickhollies.

It is run by Darlington College. It was hoped that patients who were able to leave the wards would benefit from this service, but it appears that not many people are aware of its existence. Staff and patients are allowed to use the computers free of charge but visitors are subjected to a small fee.

Help and advice is readily available from Keith and Ruth who are always on hand to solve your problems. So the service is there: use it or lose it! - T Rutherford, Shildon.

HARRY MEAD I COMPLIMENT Harry Mead on his consistently excellent columns. The Queen has a particularly acquisitive nature, knowing no bounds, and it has been allowed to flourish under a succession of toadying Prime Ministers. - F Pyle, Trimdon Village.

CHEWING GUM FOLLOWING Ray Mallon's column about the problem of discarded chewing gum (Echo, Aug 23), I recall years ago when fire extinguishers in a local hospital were checked.

Every time the carbon dioxide extinguishers were found to be empty, but only in the area of the hospital with no problem with discarded chewing gum. It was found that the extinguishers were used to remove the gum. The discarded gum was given a blast from the extinguisher and it froze, making it easier to pick up. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

MINING CLAIMS for the disease vibration white finger are accepted for miners who worked with vibrating machines after 1975. But miners who have the same symptoms but are disabled are excluded, even though they worked for many years under the same conditions prior to 1975. Why? - W O'Neill, Peterlee.

GALA THEATRE THE Dionysis Theatre Group would like to thank Rob Flower and the staff of the Gala Theatre, Durham, who made us so welcome last week when our show Oliver! played to full houses. Everyone was most kind and went out of their way to make all of us - 100 children and 30 staff - welcome.

Thanks also to everyone who supported our first show and to the people who donated £57 to our singing in the market place. We look forward to going back to the Gala next year and hope that the people of the North-East get behind the lovely theatre and make us all very proud of the "gem" on our doorstep. - Chris Banks, Front Of House, Dionysis

CUSTOMER CARE A RECENTLY purchased item gave a disappointing result so I contacted the supplier on August 23. On August 24 I received a reply which offered:

1 Thanks for my letter 2 Apologies for any upset caused 3 An assurance of their aim to maintain the highest standards 4 An assurance that complaints are treated seriously 5 An assurance that we will be advised as to the result of their investigation 6 Their thanks for taking the time to contact them.

The item was a carton of milk valued at about £1.40 purchased from Tesco. As a contrast with that, I am still awaiting signs of genuine customer care from a car manufacturer relating to our expenditure of about £11,000 last year on one of its cars. Tesco has an excellent attitude towards their customers. I have made every effort to help the car manufacturer to get its customer care right, but it has proved totally disinterested in anything but selling cars. - David Knowles, Whitby.