A READER got in touch with us to criticise Durham County Council's view on the siting of a new council HQ.

FOR the Labour leader at Durham County Council, Councillor Carl Marshall to suggest that the plan to sell the new Council HQ building on the former Sands car park to Durham University is, “A complete waste of everyone’s time and money” shows that he has a complete disregard of the truth and for democracy too. Frankly, he’s out of touch with reality! “Plans to sell council’s £50m HQ are ‘farcical’” (Echo, Apr 22).

Instead of whinging, perhaps Councillor Marshall would care to explain to the electorate, and particularly to those who live in Durham City, why the previous Labour administration defied common sense, as well as public opinion, to build a new Council HQ, together with flood defences, all at public expense, on a flood plain adjacent to the River Wear? An area in the centre of the City where traffic congestion, together with attendant traffic pollution, is also a cause for concern. At the same time, cutting down trees, the same trees which absorb pollution.

Thank goodness the new administration has a plan to sell the new building to Durham University and to build a new Council HQ at Aykley Heads.

To the majority, but obviously not to Councillor Marshall and his henchmen, this was always the preferred location.

Moreover, the new administration has also agreed to reopen the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Art Gallery in response to the wishes of the public, those who value our heritage, as well as the arts and local artists. The same buildings that were inexplicably closed by Councillor Marshall and his fellow Labour councillors.

James A Cowan, Belmont, Durham.

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