DURHAM County Council has agreed in principle to a £2.8m loan for Durham County Cricket Club (Echo, Mar 14).

It is all very well bailing out a troubled company, but the council cannot repair roads, is starving village halls and community centres of funding, and is cutting services and jobs.

One NorthEast, the former regional development agency, gave the cricket club £1m in 2010. Durham County Council loaned the club money, which is not fully repaid yet, in the same year.

Where has this money gone and what has it been used for?

The council must get its priorities right and one has to ask in the current economic climate if this loan is wise?

Coun John Shuttleworth, Weardale.