SWIMMING POOL: DURHAM County Council recently withdrew funding for the swimming pool at Thornhill Junior School in Shildon.

This resulted in the closure of the only swimming pool in the town, forcing our schoolchildren to travel to surrounding areas to learn to swim.

They now tell us that they are considering withdrawing funding for the Shildon Centre, a facility which provides many services to a variety of people in Shildon.

Labour County Councillor Vernon Chapman explains the reason for these decisions as being that the council "faces major challenges in balancing its budget".

If this is the case, why was it that recently the councillors gave themselves a 13 per cent increase in pay?

Coun Chapman goes on to say that there are "sources of money available that community groups can access".

If the county council is confident that alternative funding can be found to keep the Shildon Centre operating, then it is surely not unreasonable for the people of Shildon to ask the council to guarantee funding until such times as the new money is in place. - Garry Huntington, LibDem borough and town councillor for the Byerley Ward.

PENSION PERKS

THE debate on public sector workers' retirement rights, which will continue for many years, is not only about money and age, but is rooted in greed, envy and revenge.

Since the end of the war, public sector employees had to watch with alarm as workers in the nationalised industries received pay awards and perks which left them in the lower regions of the wages league.

Free travel was awarded to railway and airline staff, while other workers received clothing allowances.

Over the past 20 years private industry has modernised to increase productivity and profits have underpinned the generous wage structure, perks and rights of the public sector workers.

We have seen many times what happens when the wages of white collar workers exceeds the blue collar workers. The business collapses and what remains of it is sold off.

The regular statement 'No more boom or bust' by Gordon Brown may come back to haunt him. - Thomas Conlon, Spennymoor.

NEW LOGO

I THINK it is a total disgrace that Sedgefield Borough Council has decided to spend £73,000 of council tax payers' money on a new logo for the area.

I also doubt very much if this amount is the bottom line of the expenditure quoted. Perhaps they will publish the full figure when the exercise is completed?

Sedgefield Borough Council is one of the highest taxed areas in this country and yet some irresponsible councillors (the ones who voted in favour) can decide to waste money like this.

To anyone who grumbles about their high council tax bill, you can take action by asking your borough councillor if they voted yes to this proposal. Bear this in mind when you come to place a cross in the forthcoming 2007 council elections. - Councillor Jean Bird, Shildon.

AT the council meeting on November 25, I tried to raise a point on the proposals for the new corporate brand identity for the council, but was overruled by the chairman.

I feel this ruling was simply to stifle debate and push through a proposal which myself and the majority of the electorate will have difficulty understanding. Why is it necessary to change the brand at such a cost?

I am not sure what a unified brand will do for the man or woman in the street. It will not get their housing repairs done any quicker.

Surely a council's reputation is built on an effective and responsive service and any additional money should be spent on front line services.

Ask most residents in the area what they think of Sedgefield Borough Council and whether their view would change with a new logo and I predict the majority would not wish the council to spend council tax payers' money on frippery. - W Blenkinsopp, Aycliffe Village.

SHOAIB AKTAR

AFTER the recent annihilation of England by Pakistan, perhaps your cricket correspondent and resident Durham CCC sycophant Tim Wellock will be revising his opinions regarding the "Rawalpindi Express".

As the subject of Mr Wellock's vitriolic pen singlehandedly ripped the heart out of England's top order in the Third Test at Lahore, revisions are well overdue.

Tell me Tim, is he still the Rawalpindi Rickshaw as you re-christened him in September? - Peter Wilkinson, Barnard Castle.

NORTH EAST ASSEMBLY

SO Councillor Chris Foote-Wood considers my views to be nonsense (HAS, Nov 30). Surely no more nonsensical than considering oneself "indirectly elected"?

Most people will be of the opinion that, since councillors are elected as representatives of the people, then they should respect the views of those people in discharging their duties.

Unfortunately, a great many do not - being only interested in pushing their own views.

On the only occasion that the people of the North-East were allowed the opportunity to express their wishes on having a North East Assembly, either elected or unelected, it was a resounding 'No'.

The setting up of regional assemblies was and still is a requirement of the EU, which is unelected and undemocratic, and means more control from Brussels, not from local bodies.

The people do not want this situation, but by sitting on and supporting the unelected and undemocratic North East Assembly, Councillor Foote-Wood and his like are helping to bring that event about.

I consider myself to be English and patriotic and I do not have any desire to see my country disappear. This view may well upset certain LibDem politically correct sentiments, but, as with all people, I am entitled to express my views - for the moment. - J Routledge, Witton Gilbert.

ENGLISH PARLIAMENT

A FEW days ago when the new Archbishop of York was enthroned, it occurred to me what a bad time it is to be English.

The Church of England is now run by a Welshman (Archbishop of Canterbury) and an African (Archbishop of York). I do not really mind that... after all, the Church has a better case than most for inclusivity. But in the wider UK there seems to be few things that Scots are not in charge of.

Of course I blame Tony Blair and Co. As they have become increasingly unpopular, the drive to get a safe Labour seat has moved north and a large number of such seats are Scottish.

Obviously the Scots have sensibly struck a deal to their own advantage. Thus, for example, Scots could vote to charge university tuition fees in England, while paying nothing themselves.

Are Scots satisfied with this? Of course not. Only recently the archetypal Scots moaner Sean Connery was waxing indignant about the lack of financial support for the Scottish tennis player Andy Murray.

What's the answer? Well, I think an English parliament is a must. But this region voted against such a thing not long ago. How stupid was that? Maybe there are some who actually enjoy being fleeced at every turn. - Geoff Taylor, Darlington.