IN The Northern Echo on Tuesday (June 26) there was an article about the new deputy mayor of Durham not being a car driver, so having to rely on public transport to attend official events. And?

Why should I, and other council tax payers, pay for a civic car to ferry her around?

I had to be a car driver to get my job, maybe the deputy mayor’s position should have similar criteria.

And for a County Councillor to say that her local bus service is unreliable is embarrassing.

If you can’t fulfil your duties, jump off the Durham County Council gravy train and give someone else a go who can, without costing us anymore.

John Watson, Durham