SOME months ago I wrote about how delapitated Ryhope was looking with derelict buildings and nothing for the community or for the youths. It is still the same.

We have been promised that Kwik Save was to be demolished but we are still waiting. We have been promised new shops. We are still waiting. But while we wait the derelict buildings get worse.

They have demolished homes but have not rebuilt. The people of the village were given promises of new homes but we are still waiting.

I comment on the letter by Mr Patrick Lavelle. It seems Mr Lavelle is only interested in one thing, a primary care centre. We don't need a primary care centre as thousands of pounds have been spent on our new health centre and advice centre and libary which is of a very high standard. Congratulations to the builders on their magnificent work well done.

What we want is new housing, shops, facilities for the community and leisure facilities for the youths.

Has anybody gone out and asked the younger generation what they want or would like to see? Has anybody asked the older generation what they would like to see? Maybe I will run a questionnaire myself.

It seems that Ryhope is a fogotton entity. Gentoo took our well-loved rent office away making it harder for the older generation.

Maybe I should stand for the council and maybe with all the people of Ryhope behind me we may get people to listen and help and give us the money and resources to revamp our beloved village and to bring it back from the brink of devastation. So how about it? Should I stand for the councill and get my voice heard and shout for Ryhope. We need the help.

Can anybody help me achieve my aim?
Karin Ibinson,
Athol Gardens,
Ryhope

It means so much
I WRITE to say a huge thank you to everyone who has pounded the streets of the North East for St Oswald's Hospice over recent weeks.
More than 400 local people ran the Great North Run for us and 151 young people took part in the Junior Great North Run in aid of St Oswald's and over 900 night owls took part in our very first Midnight Walk last weekend, which is just incredible. Thanks to you all for your commitment to St Oswald's - it means so much to us.
We provide specialist short breaks to children and young adults from Sunderland and South Tyneside and as a registered charity we rely on the generosity of local people to provide our services. Big thanks must also go to everyone who sponsored our runners and walkers and to all our volunteers – it's very much appreciated. We couldn't do what we do without you.
Anita Irving,
Community Fundraising Manager,
St Oswald's Hospice

Hiding behind mask
SO much for the leopard changing its spots eh! I hope people are beginning to see the Tories for what they really are. Self-serving libertarian capitalists interested only in greed not need.
They are hiding their cruel intentions under a mask that continues to slip, showing the wanton Thatcherism that lurks scant millimetres beneath the surface.
Remember, one rule for us, one rule for them, or is it that they just pay lip service to rules that don't quite suit them?
So, George Osborne being unmasked by another Tory, Lord Rothschild, over the Russian billionaire yacht scandal and potential illegal donation requests for the Tory party.
Caroline Spelman the Conservative Party Chairman still under investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner and with the Tory 1922 Committee asking for her to be sacked over her paying for nanny care out of her parliamentary allowances.
Giles Chichester and Den Dover, Tory MEPs both forced to resign recently over actual misuse of parliamentary allowances and lest we forget, the gentleman who started this shameful list for the Tories, step forward Derek Conway, the Tory MP caught paying his family out of MP allowances when apparently they had done no actual work to justify those payments. And this is what they are like when in opposition.
Coun Graeme Miller
Washington South ward

Don't throw stones
DURING Prime Minister's questions (Oct 22), Gordon Brown called the Osborne affair a "very serious" matter and demanded an investigation by "the authorities". Which authorities are those then?
As no money changed hands then presumably the matter is outside the remit of the Electoral Commission and indeed the police – unlike other funding scandals which have hit Labour in the recent past. Of course Brown wants an inquiry into anything that might distract attention from the mess he's landed Britain in. He should perhaps be more cautious in case someone feels there should be inquiries made into the conduct of Mandelson as an EU commissioner and his relationship with Deripaska and Rothschild.
Does our hypocrite PM intend to launch an investigation into the Bernie Ecclestone affair? What about David Abrahams? When can we expect a proper investigation into the cash for peerages scandal?
People in glass houses should not throw stones Mr Brown!
Michael Leadbitter,
Broadsheath Terrace,
Sunderland

Jobs will be welcome, but not extra noise
THE creation of new jobs is to be applauded but, having looked at the plans for the Dunlop site, I have serious concerns about the layout.
The proposed devlopment of industrial and warehouse units plus hotel, pub and coffee shop, would be three times larger than the current Dunlop factory and extend to the C2C cycle route at its southern boundary and therefore much closer to houses along Rickleton Way, ie Teviot, Wansbeck, Alwin and Coquet.
As this is the closest the whole site comes to residential properties, I can't understand why the hotel and pub (probably surplus to requirements in this area anyway) and the delivery yard of a warehouse (presumably a 24-hour operation), have been sited very close to this southern boundary.
Extra tree planting may help to screen the development from view but there will still be a long-term noise problem for residents in this area.
Previously noise from both the Dunlop factory and social club could be heard in Rickleton but this is a much larger development and has the potential to bring more noise, particularly at night, much closer to our homes.
Reading the application it seems to me that more attention has been given to the impact the development will have on the flora and fauna than has been given to the long-term impact on the quality of life of the human residents.
Name and address supplied

Push ahead with it
PEOPLE are once again doing their best to block the Russell Foster League's plans for the proposed football pitches at Newbottle.
Once again it's "The Great North Forest". I must have missed it on my travels. Could someone show me where it is?
I believe it was the developer who planted 40,000 trees on the site in the first place and 7,000 are to be lost but replaced either on site or in the Ryhope area. So what's the problem? I presume when the new estate over the road was built trees were removed and uprooted. Was there any hue and cry then?
I say to Sunderland Council and the developer do not let a few dog walkers distract you from pushing ahead with this magnificent scheme to give the biggest youth league in the country and the 10,000 kids who participate a base.
Power To The Bairns

Let's put him right
W QUINN raises some points (Letters, Oct 23), which need a response to put him right, again.
He first of all refers to David Cameron's conference speech as "unremarkable". This is despite the many impartial and neutral commentators reporting it as a fine speech and well delivered. It should also be noted that Cameron did not need his wife as a warm-up to add character to the proceedings.
He then commented on Cameron saying that every penny of public expenditure should be watched. Seems sensible to me, seeing that Brown's irresponsible and reckless record borrowing and wasteful spending has now brought this country to a recession.
Finally he treads his usual well worn path back to the 1980s to blame Thatcher's reforms of financial regulation for the current financial mess. If these reforms were so bad why did the New Labour Government and in particular Gordon Brown not change the reforms? After all he has had 11 years to do it.
Coun Alan Wright,
Conservative, St Chad's Ward

Revive city centre
ONCE again, not content to finish the enlargement of Eldon Square faster then we can rebuild the Vaux site, our smaller neighbours to the north are planning an £800million investment in Pilgrim Street. Do our ruling councillors plan a much-needed revival of our city centre?
With even Seaham seeming to find the vision to show us how it is done, our ruling Labour group's actions as regards our city centre seem to give away their small town mentality.
Shaun Cudworth,
Silksworth,
Sunderland

ON behalf of Alzheimer's Society (Sunderland) I would like to thank Mrs Sheila Stewart of Whitburn for her generosity in requesting that family and friends make donations to us in lieu of birthday gifts, on the occasion of her 80th birthday. The birthday party took place in the Whitburn Community Centre, and a great time was had by all.
Clearly Mrs Stewart is held in very high regard by her family and friends as the 87 people who attended came from all over the UK as well as abroad and the amount raised totalled a very generous £500.
We would like to add our best wishes to Mrs Stewart for many more happy birthdays.
Sheelagh Dilworth,
Branch Manager,
Alzheimer's Society

HAS anyone found a purse, lost on Saturday November 1, between the Charity Cancer Shop in Holmeside and the taxi rank near the railway station. This purse belongs to a very dear old lady of 95 years old. If anyone has found it, please hand it in to the Charity Shop in Holmeside. The purse had about £30 in it, a lot of money to lose at her age.
A friend of this lady

I WAS wondering in this time of credit crunch and recyling, why perfectly strong fences at Marley Pots "only in need of a coating" are been smashed down and replaced with what looks like pallet wood? Also strong concrete posts are being destroyed and replaced with wood. Strong gate hinges "with years in them" are been cut with saws! Another waste of money by gentoo I think!
Marley Pots