ONE can accept that the present County Hall in Durham is no longer fit for purpose but the proposed location on The Sands is probably the worst place in Durham that a replacement should be sited.

I won’t go over the arguments against The Sands but suggest an alternative which is Belmont Industrial Estate.

There are several unused sites there that could be acquired for this. It gives quicker access to the A1(M) and, as the bulk of the county’s population lives to the east of Durham City, this would enable easier access for employees to the part of the county that is the most densely populated.

This would reduce congestion somewhat in the city centre and especially of course along Gilesgate, Claypath and Providence Row. Whatever the reasons the council wants to be on The Sands, the disadvantages compared to Belmont make it a very poor choice.

Daniel Gray, Durham