20/04/06

The majority of the roadside verges, hedgerows and tree lines are awash with litter, not to mention most of the towns as well.

It is no doubt a legacy of modern society to throw away bottles, wrappers and plastic bags etc, wherever people feel like it and without any thought of the consequence that their actions may have on their very own locality. If the rest of the country is in a similar state, then we must be the dirtiest country within Europe.

The burden of cleaning up this mess is, of course, the responsibility of our councils, but how often do they actually perform this duty? Very rarely I would think.

If it's a question of manpower costs, we could import 5,000 Polish workers at cheap rates or even better, utilise all those who are willing to sit on their backsides and take every handout going for nothing in return. - A Walton, Newton Aycliffe.

DEPRESSING SUMS

OVER the Easter holidays it has been revealed that the EU budget agreed by Tony Blair last December is £20bn more than admitted at the time, which means that hard-pressed British taxpayers will have to find another £20bn.

The total spending for the EU in the financial period 2007-13 is in excess of £600bn, which will hugely swell the size of EU spending.

To put the sums in perspective, the additional amount conceded by Mr Blair last December, £7bn, is equivalent to the total police budget for England and Wales.

The UK's annual gross contribution to Brussels, £12bn, is equivalent to the combined revenue raised by inheritance tax, capital gains tax and stamp duty.

We are paying in an awesome amount of money. What are we getting in return? Currently, about £8bn of our own money back on conditional match-funding terms, which many (erroneously) refer to as "European money".

In return for the additional billions of pounds of contributions to the EU over the next few years the UK Parliament will continue to be hobbled, our countryside further ruined, our fishing grounds plundered and our businesses will continue to be asphyxiated with more regulation. - Peter Troy, Sedgefield.

DA VINCI CODE

IS the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, right to criticise The Da Vinci Code (Echo, Apr 17)?

I am currently reading The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and I find it a truly intriguing read, full of historical and intellectual information.

I feel it was expected that the Archbishop would criticise The Da Vinci Code as it threatens the validity of the Bible and the reputation of the Church.

However, I do feel that Dr Williams is correct in saying that we are instantly fascinated by the suggestion of conspiracies and cover-ups. This may be a result of people today being mistrusting, or just expecting and wanting more from what is already there.

I am a Christian and, although I have read the book, my beliefs have not changed. I enjoyed the questions and theories the book presents, as I am sure many other readers do, but everyone's beliefs are different and, ultimately, I feel we all need to believe in something.

I doubt The Da Vinci Code will cause too much devastation to the Church or religion. It is just providing intellectual stimulation and suspense to an audience. - Emily Prior, Darlington.

FORGET ST GEORGE

IT'S that time of year again when parts of the media and some obsessive types try to bore the rest of us into their version of compulsory Englishness and it's getting worse by the year.

Those of us who couldn't care less about St George, or his day (April 23) get called unpatriotic.

Some people even want it made into a bank holiday, presumably so we can drink warm ale and do a Morris dance around the nearest maypole. Well you can count me out of this contrived nationalism.

St George was a man who never even set foot on British soil; he was born, lived and died in the Middle East.

Still, if people want to celebrate St George it's up to them. But remember, he is also the patron saint of syphilis sufferers so at least you will also be remembering some of the less fortunate members of society. - Paul Rivers, Wallsend, North Tyneside.

REFORM VITAL

THE difficulties this Government has found itself in over donations and loans to political parties makes reform of the House of Lords very urgent indeed.

After nine years of a Labour Government isn't it about time the House of Lords was replaced with an elected Senate?

In the 21st century, it makes the country a laughing stock when we have a second chamber made up of life peers and hereditary peers with a few bishops thrown in.

The allegations about the sale of honours makes the country appear corrupt and dishonest. If Mr Blair is to go some way to restoring his tarnished reputation before he leaves office, some reform of the second chamber must come very soon. - Nigel Boddy, Darlington.

CARE HOMES

THE figures quoted by Councillor Ken Manton (HAS, Apr 18) regarding costs of the private and public sector have never been quantified by any council officer when challenged by me.

In any event, both the young and old are the most vulnerable people in society, and we as county councillors have a public duty to provide the best for them.

Money should be one of the last things in people's minds when dealing with such important issues. Also, the £39m for upgrading homes quoted has never been quantified either.

Perhaps Coun Manton and his Cabinet may wish to reflect after the Labour Group elections next week. - Independent county councillor John Shuttleworth, Durham County Council.

TOWN CENTRE SHOCK

ON a recent return to Darlington to support the Quakers' push for the play-offs I was astounded to see an act of vandalism of titanic proportions.

Have my eyes deceived me, or has someone actually sanctioned the destruction of High Row - the very thing that makes the heart of Darlington so very unique in an age of "off the peg" town centre design?

Is this the same town that saved the Covered Market, Civic Theatre and re-instated the Town Cross?

Here's looking forward to the future visionary council members who will in 50 to 100 years' time have the "brilliant" idea of restoring one of Darlington's former glories. - David Wyldbore, Keighley, West Yorkshire.

BRING YOUR OWN

I RECENTLY despaired that the £3.9m South Park restoration project in Darlington could provide security guards yet fail to supply adequate toilet tissue and hand towels. Will visitors think we are approaching a more French society?

Are we required to bring our own, and will this principle apply to the town's Pedestrian Heart scheme where we must provide our own seating and litter bin, or if we attend the new education village should we take along our own computers, pens and pencils?

Why can't we re-instate and give responsibility back to the good old park-keeper. Long live discipline. - Ian Scott, Darlington.