In the letter I succesfully prophesied the destruction of Crowtree Terrace, which was the last vestige of the most excellent setting of Crowtree Road.

However I failed to see the destruction of High Street West, near the firs station, which had buildings dating back to the 1300s and were among the first in the country to use tiles instead of thatch. But at least the frontage of the High Street Baths was salvaged.

Subsequently, the destruction of old Sunderland continues apace, what with the demolition of the Sunday School in Villiers Street and the upcoming demolition of one of the few public houses left in the central area, The Windsor Castle or Post Office as it was formerly known.

To me the council does not like bricks or stonework and it will not be happy until the whole town centre is concrete and plastic. So in order to preserve the few old buildings left, I propose that they should all be painted grey with strategically painted white "panels" to make them look modern and then perhaps when we have a council that appreciaites these beautiful buildings we will be able to clean the paint off to reveal their natural beauty.
Alan Vincent,
Old Penshaw,
Sunderland

Vision of the city
I FORESEE the people of Sunderland's disgust and dismay if the clipper ship City of Adelaide is lost to our city.
I foresee a backlash in the local and general elections in and around our city.
I foresee local councillors and MPs voted out of office,
I foresee people marching on to the civic centre to voice their anger at our council,
I foresee when this ship is lost to our once proud shipbuilding history – when our council is sitting on millions of pounds in the council coffers and yet it begrudges its own people their desire to save this ship to mark our shipbuilding history –
I foresee this ship lost to Sunderland forever because its people were ignored by the very people who are supposed to listen to them,
I foresee our city's people's disgust when they find out that parts of the City Of Adelaide have ended up restoring the Cutty Sark.
KC

Back of the queue
WHENEVER I read the eloquent and intelligently-written lines that turn up week after week in the Echo letters column on the subject of Sunderland city centre, I realise that the people who write them are voicing their opinion for the majority of our townspeople.
How long are the good people of Sunderland to be ushered to the back of the queue when it comes to investment and a true vision of our city that reflects it's people's needs, hopes and aspirations?
I see that in Newcastle a new extension to Eldon Square has opened. What a marvellous development (another nail in our retail coffin). A true city of vision.
Hang your heads in shame all at Sunderland City Council, One North East and the rest of you who profess to be doing something for the development of our city.
Your vacuous words and deeds are now seen for what they really
are: empty and devoid of any substance.
Asitis

My cat nearly died
MY beautiful Egyptian Mau cat was attacked in our garden by a terrier.
Neither myself nor the dog walker were able to stop the frenzy.
However, due to the combination of a quick-responding heroic neighbour and the opening of a new state of the art "cat-only" vets named fittingly SimplyVets in Fence Houses, she was saved.
Despite arresting twice en route, she was fixed up in record time and even went on to win UK Grand title at the Supreme Show at the National Exhibition Centre.
I wrote her heartwarming story from a cat's perspective for our club magazine.
Then I thought is there any way I could get some publicity for the new surgery, which kindly stayed open well after closing to attend to my precious Grand Champion Taliah?
Leesa Knight,
Moorsfield,
Houghton

Deprived of bins
LAST year the poles that displayed the bus stop signs at my two local bus stops on Parkway, Washington were removed.
They were cut away at ground level and the signs themselves relocated on to the tops of the shelters.
The problem is that the poles also housed the litter bins and no replacement bins were provided. A serious litter problem quickly developed.
Two phone calls to the appropriate council department failed to resolve the issue. I was promised a return call from the council but it did not materialise.
I enlisted the help of my local councillor who had a little more success – one litter bin was attached to the nearest street lamp post. This was 15 metres away from one bus stop and 60 metres away and across the road from the other. Unsurprisingly, our local litter problems continue.
It seems quite obvious that bus stop areas will always be potential litter hot spots and that an appropriate alternative to dropping litter on the ground should be provided by the council.
Keith Cockerill,
Sherwood Close,
Washington

Man punched and kicked his dog
ON Monday, February 22, at 7.20am a man was walking two dogs on and the the grassed area behind the civic centre.
One dog was a tan bull mastiff and the other was a smaller brown/black dog. This man was trying to get these dogs to lie down. The smaller dog lay down no bother but the bull mastiff didn't. Fair enough, he was using treats to get them to lie down
When this man couldn't get the bull mastiff to lie down he punched it, then looked round to see if anyone was watching, then punched it again.
Then, further round, the bull mastiff wouldn't lie down again and you kicked it in the chest. Then as you left the civic centre the bull mastiff walked by your left hand side and you back-heeled it in its ribs a few times.
Well I saw you! You were wearing a red jacket, grey bottoms and a black hat and if you are reading this you'll know who you are.
You are nothing but a cruel bully. Why all this cruelty? People like you shouldn't be allowed to keep dogs. You should be banned!
This dog looked a lovely dog and yes it might be your dog but no way should you treat it the way you did. I hope one day this same dog turns on you and bites you really hard.
Dog Lover

Different reality
I REFER to the letter from W Quinn (Echo, Feb 15), regarding the NHS under Labour.
Mr Quinn's version of events is somewhat removed from reality. He does not make reference to the number of senior managers almost doubling (91 per cent) in a decade, compared with a 35 per cent increase in doctors and nurses.
He does not comment on the fact that expenditure has trebled since Labour came to power yet over the past few years productivity has barely increased – and actually fell between 2001 and 2005.
Where is the mention of the BMA's complaint that "market-driven" health care policies had wasted about £220million since 2003.
There is no reference to elderly patients being kept in store cupboards surrounded by bloodstained bins, bandages and shelves of medical supplies, some missing meals because they were not on proper wards, as occurred in Norfolk.
What about patients being discharged in an undernourished state following treatment?
Mr Quinn could have referred to Professor Terrance Stephenson who recently informed the Daily Telegraph that there was a shortfall of 600 consultant paediatricians.
He added top level trainees work under "unsustainable pressure".
Last, but not least (I could go on), Michael Summers, vice-chairman of the Patients' Association said: "Far too many hospital services are closing to save money".
Terrence Docherty,
City of Sunderland Conservative Party

Not in it together
THE attitude of some senior Tory MPs makes David Cameron's statement that "we are all in this together" seem shallow.
Take arrogant Sir Nicholas Winterton who does not want to mix socially with lesser mortals. The Tory MP was protesting against a proposal to ban MPs from travelling first class on trains at the taxpayers' expense.
Winterton said that people in standard class were a different type. "I didn't say they weren't as good, but they are in a different walk of life, very often with children," he added.
The mind boggles at another Tory grandee who decided we are not all in it together when it comes to remuneration. Along with the Tory Party he voted against bringing in minimum wage which started off at £3.60 per hour. Only a hypocrite would deny the working class a way out of poverty while the man himself, Sir Nicholas Soames, is reputed to be on £1,000 per hour.
The actions of these two reflect on the Tory Party as a whole and poses the question, will the minimum rate continue to exist if the Tories win the next General Election?
W Quinn,
Millfield,
Sunderland

We'd love more wool
IN answer to the letter from S Charlton, who has various spare balls of wool to donate, our ladies who are part of a knitting group here at Chance, would love to have your balls of wool. They meet in the community centre at Hendon and knit items for various charities, inlcuding the neo-natal hospital unit. Please contact me for further information.
Victoria Tipling,
Tel 0191 5670978

RE Letters Extra (Feb 25), from S Charlton, of Fulwell. Wool can be left at Fulwell News on the corner of Atkinson Road and Fulwell Road during opening hours. It is used by one of the cat charities to make blankets and all donations, large or small, are welcome.
Phil Dodsworth,
c/o Fulwell News,
268 Fulwell Road,
Sunderland

lAnother social knitting group, which meets in the Cafe Rico in Burdon Road, Sunderland, has members who knit various items for charities including the RNLI and Sunderland Royal Hospital. "We would be grateful to receive any unwanted or leftover balls of wool," said member Brenda Royal, who is on tel. 07766542893.

lKnitter for charity is Sharon Smith, who also knits tiny woolly hats for babies in the neo-natal unit, as well as items for Beckwith Mews old people's home fund-raising events, to help pay for residents' outings. She also welcomes any spare balls of wool and is on 0191 5672731.

lOne group of keen knitters for charity is Knit One, Purl One, based at the Community Link shop in Villette Road, Hendon. They knit clothes for neo-natal unit babies, jumpers for Ethiopia and other good causes. They also raised more than £600 for Grace House and money for St Benedict's Hospice. Contact Mrs Ann-Marie Smith on 0191 5140619.

lIn Hetton, unwanted wool is always in demand by the knitters of Hetton Independent Methodist Church who knit jumpers for Romanian orphanages and other good causes. Contact Mrs Elizabeth Sheers on 0191 3856953.

lPawz For Thought is an animal charity that is also in need of knitting wool for fund-raising. The shop is at 170, Fulwell Road, Sunderland. SR6 9QT Tel: 0191 5168424. Opening times Monday to Saturday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.

I READ all the letters in the Echo about bringing the City of Adelaide home to Sunderland and I agree with them all.
I married a shipwright in 1950 and all his mates worked in the shipyards. We owe it to all the men who worked in the shipbuilding trades to bring the City of Adelaide home where she belongs. It would be a fitting memorial for all the yards that closed down and if someone has a collection in the town centre I would be willing to help with the collection tins.
LW

REGARDING the letter from L Hudson the UKIP member, in the Echo of February 5, he comments that shipbuilding was sent to India where there was no history of shipbuilding. I suggest he takes a trip along to Hartlepool and cast his eyes over HMS Trincomalee, an excellent example of Indian shipbuilding.
Larry Lamb,
Rugby,
Warwickshire

THANK you to Aidan who found my driving licence on Thursday, February 18 in Azalea Terrace and returned it to me by post very quickly. It's nice to know that there are honest people out there. Much appreciated.
Michael A,
Sunderland