SHORTLY after opening, we are told that the new University Hospital in Durham City is short of beds.

Surely this must have been obvious before it opened, so why did they demolish all the old wards of the old hospital?

Why did they not keep one or two still in operation until (as it will have to be) extensions are built in the new hospital? - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

ROY KEANE

I THINK Roy Keane wanted to be player manager of the Republic of Ireland in the World Cup.

Another Keane, Robbie, could be the next to go the same way. They should learn from Niall Quinn on how to get respect on and off the pitch.

They have been spoilt in power and temper at the clubs they play for, thinking they cannot be replaced. - N Tate, Darlington.

ONE has to admire the firm stand Mick McCarthy has taken in the Roy Keane saga.

I want England to win the World Cup, but I hope the luck of the Irish makes them do well and proves to Keane how committed the manager is to the whole team. - George Sowerby, Bishop Auckland.

TRANSPORT POLICIES

HOPEFULLY, and eventually, a reliable, clean and well-organised mode of public transport serving all parts of Britain will be put in place.

Until that is achieved, the new Transport Secretary can only appeal to the commonsense of vehicle owners to use them less wherever possible in order to go some way to easing congestion.

But I fear, in many instances, such an appeal will fall on deaf ears.

Emotive words such as persecution of the motorists and the well-worn and rather childish phrase of Two Jags Prescott do nothing to help solve the problem and neither will another road building programme.

When it is realised that, on the world map, Britain is likened to a sod of grass floating off the continent of Europe and without the capacity to take an ever-growing stream of motor vehicles, some real commonsense may prevail. - GE Grieveson, Richmond.

COMPASSION

WHAT has happened to the ideals of compassion and caring for those less fortunate than ourselves?

Last week, we went to collect Christian Aid envelopes, which we have done for the past 20 years. We were appalled at the responses from a large percentage of people, everything from empty envelopes thrust at us, or denial that an envelope had ever been delivered, to extremely unpleasant refusal.

People seem to have changed over the last few years. But surely, even in this age of grab everything for yourself and hang on to it, ten pence would not break the bank and, when added together, would make a tremendous difference to our fellow human beings who have absolutely nothing.

I would like to add that there are still houses where the collector is received pleasantly and a donation is given very willingly. To these people, a big thank you, you have restored some of our faith in human nature. - Jean Lazenby, Darlington.

PIGEONS

I HAVE noticed a number of Darlington's wild pigeons run over this year in the town centre. I don't recall much of this happening previously.

I should have thought that the reputation the North-East has as the cruelty capital would affect people's concern, as there is no excuse at all for it.

Traffic should travel through this busy thoroughfare slowly.

If Darlington is to be a good place to live then we can do without this unpleasantness. - A Johnson, Darlington.

MIDDLE EAST

IN response to I Torrington (HAS, May 27), I am of course aware that the conflict between different religions goes back many centuries and atrocities were committed on all sides. Nevertheless, I would argue that the main roots of the present Arab/Israeli conflict and of the mistrust and hostility between the West and the Arab/Muslim world can be found within the last 150 years.

These conflicts have as much to do with French and British imperialism and American interference as with Islamic extremism.

To put all the blame on one side is simply wrong and grossly unfair to those Arabs and Muslims who seek peace and reconciliation.

I am indeed critical of Western foreign policy, but I do not 'mock the West for being hated' and I certainly do not condone the murderous activities of nihilistic religious maniacs, whatever religion they claim to represent. - Pete Winstanley, Durham.

MODERN FOOTBALL

READING how the excessive wage demands of Dwight Yorke scuppered the deal that would have taken him to the Boro, beggars belief (Echo, May 22) and would make one wonder how selfish can these modern day players get.

The move would have benefited both himself and the club. As it turned out, it benefited nobody.

The madness of these lucrative contracts given to such players is evident. Where is the logic when a player has to be paid thousands of pounds weekly for sitting on the bench after having lost his place in the first team?

As someone once said, when you go for the lot you can finish up with nothing. He might well have added, unless you happen to be a footballer. - Douglas Punchard, Kirkbymoorside.