MIDDLE EAST

I NEVER dreamed there would be a time I would agree with and defend Hugh Pender, one time staunch supporter of our hypocritical, posturing Prime Minister, destroyer of Great Britain.

However, Hugh Pender is correct regarding the Israel/Palestine situation, though slightly exaggerating.

I was serving with the Royal Air Force in Palestine up to our withdrawal in 1948 and therefore can claim some knowledge of the situation.

Should DW Lacey (HAS, Jan 4) don his pensive headwear, he may well admit to a parallel in the treatment of Arabs in Palestine and Jews in other countries. A little reflection by the Jews would have avoided the present situation in such a lovely country. J Robinson, Darlington.

I WONDER why you allow a member of the Church of England space to publish such a vicious, evil article (HAS, Jan 8) against a very senior member of his own religion.

I served in Palestine in 1948 and I challenge Peter Mullen to spend a few days with a Palestinian family.

He could watch his Israeli friends' tanks flatten Arab schools, hospitals and houses which are sited on Arab land to build another Jewish settlement.

Mr Mullen conveniently forgot to mention the Stern gang who murdered many British servicemen.

What is his excuse for the decapitation of young Arab children and their heads placed outside British billets? Tommy McCormack, Newton Aycliffe.

POLICE AUTHORITY

DURING this year the number of police in North Yorkshire has hit its highest ever level. By March 31 there will be over 1,420, 100 more than January 2001.

At the same time, however, the pensions bill for retired officers is soaring. This is no fault of the officers themselves, who deserve a good pension after a lifetime's service to our communities. Next year's Government grant will not bridge all the gap. The North Yorkshire Police Authority is reviewing all areas of expenditure for savings. But despite its best endeavours, there will be a shortfall.

A key question is how this will be filled. The main options will be to reduce the number of officers or increase the police tax (Council Tax precept) currently £62.59 a year for the average household. This level is well below the national average for police authorities.

We would be interested to hear reader reactions to levels of policing and raising enough money locally to pay for them.

The police authority is is holding an open meeting at County Hall, Northallerton, on Monday January 28, 2002, at 5pm, where the authority's financial position will be explained. County Councillor C Les, CD Carter, Mrs JH Ryan JP, North Yorkshire Police Authority, Northallerton.

CHESTERFIELD HOUSE

I ATTENDED the meeting of the planning committee of Darlington Borough Council which approved Darlington Building Society's application to demolish the building known as Chesterfield.

Chesterfield is in a conservation area. However, this fact did not seem to trouble the majority of the committee.

English Heritage objected, as did many other bodies and residents. The mere fact that Chesterfield had previously been used commercially appears to mean that the building could be demolished to allow the erection of what appears to look like a prison.

The whole affair left a bitter taste in the mouths of the public and certainly made me wonder about the state of democracy in this country and the nature of local authorities. - H Newell, Darlington.

NEIL HEBBLETWAITE

I WAS thrilled to hear Neil Hebblethwaite is to be allowed to resume his duties as a consultant gynaecologist (Echo, Jan 9).

It is a pity the main witness has not been named has she no thoughts for the trauma she has put Mr Hebblethwaite and his family through?

This was not a clinical incident with waiting lists and shortage of specialists in the NHS. I feel someone has a lot to answer for, depriving the local female population for two years of a caring consultant. A Thompson, Northallerton.

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

IT was nice to see a local Labour MP attempting to mediate between employees and company (Echo, Jan 8) during the dispute at Caterpillar, in Peterlee. Very enlightened I would say.

Strange how opinions change though. In 1984 when the Durham Coalfield, already depleted by previous Labour administrations, voted two to one not to strike, with some lodge areas voting over 75 per cent in favour of working, militant flying pickets were sent in.

Egged on by political reasons, Labour again used the working man and were happy to set brother against brother, father against son and marra against marra.

Labour will never fool me. They have a vested interest in the region being bottom of every league and well they know it. It's where they get their "blind votes".

I wonder if the people of Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, or Rutland, would meekly accept being bottom of the prosperity league? Jim Tague, Bishop Auckland.

DIAL-A-RIDE

I AM writing to voice my concern about the possibility of the Dial-a-Ride service closing down.

Since my husband died two years ago it has been a lifeline to me. I use it regularly three or four times a week. If it does happen it will lower my quality of life a great deal and would curtail my freedom too.

I am very worried and distressed by the rumour, as are many other disabled people. None of us wants to be housebound as in the bad old days.

People tell me not to worry but they are either fit or have a car and they don't understand at all.

Rather than lose this wonderful service I am, as are most of us, prepared to pay more. JL Reed, Darlington.