05/05/06

From August we will not be able to obtain licences from our local post office since the BBC has awarded the contract for over-the-counter sales to PayPoint.

Many of us will now need to travel to use a shop or store which has PayPoint facilities.

I have a copy of a letter from James Purnell, Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism, which states that this is a commercial decision and not a matter in which the Government can intervene.

It is estimated that the BBC will save more than £100m in collection costs over the next six years. Believe that if you can.

But isn't the TV licence a sort of tax on operating a set imposed by law by the Government?

As usual, the law-abiding tax-paying citizens are being inconvenienced even when wishing to stay within the law.

Or maybe those of us under the age of 75 should consider not getting a licence, refusing to pay the fine and going to prison so we can watch TV for free. - J Routledge, Witton Gilbert, Durham.

PAYMENTS FIASCO

GIVEN the media frenzy over the incompetence of Government ministers and their departments, I find it strange that Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, seems to have escaped attention.

She continues to preside over chaos and distress in the agricultural industry caused by incompetence within her own department and its agencies.

Most farmers are still waiting to receive EU payments for managing the landscape and environment during 2005. They were promised in February, then March and, most recently, June.

Now, Mrs Beckett is asking the EU to extend the payment period until October.

Other EU countries paid their farmers before Christmas. Most English farmers are having to rely on the goodwill of banks and suppliers. This situation is causing real distress throughout the rural economy.

If the media can look away from the current Whitehall farce, they could ask some tough questions of the politicians who are threatening the financial future of farmers. - Angus Collingwood-Cameron, North-East Director, Country Land and Business Association (CLA).

MARKET CALL

WE have always thought moving the market from Parliament Street, York, to Newgate was a mistake, and walking through it recently we found it lifeless and depressing.

It is not that people don't want the vibrancy of a busy market; it is that the outdoor meeting place established by earlier generations has been taken from its natural habitat and dropped into an alcove away from where people like to congregate.

Covered-in markets are not the same and Newgate is halfway between a covered-in and an open market. Proper markets have people gathering to chat and lively stallholders shouting their wares.

We were part of the days when market days were worth going to. Steve Galloway (leader of City of York Council), do something popular for a change. Restore York market to its proper home. - George Appleby, Clifton, York.

EU PRINCIPLES

THE Liberal Democrat group on the Committee of the Regions has set out the principles on which the European Union was founded and which are just as relevant today. These are principles which every responsible citizen can and should support:

To guarantee peace, freedom and security in and around Europe; to promote and protect democracy and universal rights in Europe and around the world; to strengthen Europe's economy and to promote solidarity around Europe by working in partnership with national, regional and local government; to make it easy for Europe's citizens to live and work throughout the Union; to promote equality and tolerance of diversity in Europe; to promote and facilitate co-operation between Europeans, at individual, local, regional and national level, and in both the public and private sectors; to protect Europe's environment; to ensure that Europe's voice is heard in the world; to listen to its citizens, be accountable to them and work for them in a transparent and decentralised way. - Councillor Chris Foote Wood (North-East LibDem member, Committee of the Regions).

ORDINATION

AS an Anglican clergyman, I was intrigued by the item regarding an ordination in Aske Chapel (Echo, May 1) and it raises some questions.

What is the traditional Anglican Church? Is it in communion with the See of Canterbury and if not, can it be styled Anglican? Who carried out this ordination? Was he a Bishop of the established church?

The whole affair seems to me to be highly irregular and I would hope that this item does not give credibility to what seems to me to be a schismatic sect. - Peter Elliott, Eaglescliffe.

Alan Shearer

HOW unfortunate it was for Alan Shearer to have such a brilliant career ended due to injury. Alan achieved his ambition to wear the famous black and white stripes of Newcastle United, following in the shadows of some all-time greats, such as Jackie Milburn and Malcolm Macdonald.

To score more than 200 goals for Newcastle over ten years was remarkable. He was injured for part of those years and many people tried to write him off as a goalscorer, only for him to return to bang in even more.

Like Sir Bobby Robson, Alan Shearer has being a good ambassador for football and the North-East. He overtook Jackie Milburn's goalscoring record. All three will be remembered by the people of our region, whichever team they support. - Ben Ord, Spennymoor.

BORO SUPERMAN

WHILE watching the Uefa Cup semi-final between Middlesbrough and Steaua Bucharest on Thursday last week, we thought that the Bucharest strip looked very much like a Superman outfit.

However, it would appear that Superman was playing for Middlesbrough, as proved by the picture on your back page of (Echo, Apr 28) by Richard Rayner, of North News, showing Massimo Maccarone scoring the winning goal. - Sadie Broadley, Darlington.

METATARSAL BREAKS BUG

I HAVE three questions to ask following Wayne Rooney's metatarsal injury:

1. How come these breaks have only happened to our three best players? (David Beckham, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney).

2. Why don't they have stronger boots to protect them?

3. If, as your paper said, England scored 17 goals in the run-ups and Rooney didn't score any, why are we panicking? - Beryl Sandham, Darlington.

HARD TO UNDERSTAND

CAN you understand footballers taking their shirts off when they score a goal - knowing they will get booked for it? - N Tate, Darlington.

EASTBOURNE ACADEMY

WHY do we need 53 councillors in Darlington? The nine cabinet members make a momentous decision regarding secondary education without consultation. The rest of the councillors are not even given the chance to question them.

The decision to increase the size of the Eastbourne Academy by 150 places has important implications. It is stated that the 150 extra pupils will come from other schools, but no indication of which schools.

If the hope is that they will come from Hurworth and it will close through lack of numbers, this is a dangerous tactic. It is more likely that parents will opt for a school with a proven academic record rather than a glossy building with pupils from a failing school.

If the policy fails, the council will be left with 1,350 surplus places crippling the education budget or with a staggering increase in rates.

The alternative is that the intention is to close both Branksome and Longfield Schools.

Councillor Chris McEwan, the cabinet member responsible for education, has said they are safe, but we know from past experience what this means. Councillor John Williams, leader of the council, said that about Hurworth. Then, when he wanted to close it, said "things move on".

Why is the cabinet so secretive about its intentions. What has it got to lose? - Brian Fiske, Press officer, Darlington Liberal Democrats.

WINNING WAYS

ABOUT two years ago, a new football club was started in the village of Middleton St George named Middleton Rangers JFC. A few volunteers have worked immensely hard to create and establish the club, which now encompasses age groups from eight to 14.

It now acts as the main focal point for the youth of Middleton St George and neighbouring villages and has just enjoyed its most successful season so far, with its Under-14 and Under-12 groups winning their respective leagues, and the Under-Nines won the pre-season Barnard Castle tournament.

Given the hard time the youth of this village have been given by Darlington Borough Council regarding the possible closure of their local comprehensive school at Hurworth, this success has been a very welcome distraction.

Most of the players attend, or hope to attend, the much appreciated Hurworth School. On behalf of the Under-12 section, we would like to dedicate the success we achieved in football this season to the courageous people who stood up and fought for the survival of Hurworth School. Well done all round. - Mark Anderson, Secretary Under-12s Section, Middleton Rangers JFC.

FAITH SCHOOLS

OFSTED said that Longfield School improves "teaching in some religious education..." (Echo, Apr 29). Pray tell me why.

It is recognised that faith schools are divisive. I well remember that when I last received RI at school, a Jewish friend had to go and stand outside while we were instructed.

The Government's encouragement of faith schools is like turning the clock back more than 100 years. Could it be related to Tony Blair's likely decision to convert to Roman Catholicism (Observer, Apr 30)?

If religions want to teach the subject to children, which is questionable in itself, then they should do so on a voluntary basis and have Sunday Schools rather than have RI as the only mandatory subject for schools. The Education Act 1944 needs amendment to bring it into the 21st Century. - John W Antill, Darlington