I WOULD like to express my disgust at our MP Roberta Blackman-Woods' comments in Parliament (Echo, May 21), reported in an article headlined “

Call for change in city saturated with drink

”. Absolute rubbish.

How dare she talk down our historic city in that tone?

It’s about time Roberta stopped listening to ill-founded gripes and grumbles hyped up by fake news from a few moaning city residents.

The facts are – Durham is a place to visit, invest, socialise, have time with friends and family over a drink, dinner or coffee.

I talk to our young people in our villages about the night-time economy, who tell me there is more life in the graveyard. They spend their hard-earned money on a taxi to Newcastle.

I can assure Roberta as Alderman of our city, I will continue to fully support the dozens of villages, many pit villages, where issues differ from the few city residents, and promote the enhancement of our beautiful historic city.

Don’t worry about the bus station, my ten-year campaign is nearly there.

Alderman Phil Stoddart, Ushaw Moor