WHEN will the people of Sunderland see past their inbred pit village brainwashing when it comes to voting?

In my opinion the Labour party has always been the party of the loser, the no-hoper who'll gladly live off the backs of those who are prepared to do an honest day's work.

Even when given the opportunity they couldn't do it. The NCB and the shipyards spring to mind, bleeding the taxes of the honest working man year after year.

You don't need to do enough to cover your wages when you are over-protected by powerful unions, for many of them their only qualification for getting the job in the first place was to have a relation already working there.

I've heard the term "Tory vandalism" to describe the closing of these industries. Well comrades, look no further than the mirror. The Labour party was guaranteed the votes from all of these men and women in these industries and all other nationalised industries throughout the country, paying for votes out of our money.

If the Labour party improved the lifestyle of the no-hoper, gave them opportunity, achievable goals, a sense of self-pride and value then whole communities would improve and life would be so much more of a life than just an existence. But you know what – none of them would vote Labour any more.
Name and address supplied

Make it a gem
I AM a regular visitor to Hylton Dene and I read with interest about the plans forwarded by the goup Resources For Change. Does anyone think that a "ghost" hunt or spooky story nights for kids would interest many, if any, people?

The Dene is a beautiful peaceful place with many different types of trees and plants which make an ideal environment for the many species of birds, along with rabbits and squirrels moles and mice.

Yes, it does need a lot of tidying up but surely any money spent would be better used converting the Dene into a nature park/entertainment site. It is a massively underated area with plenty of space for picnic tables, rest areas etc. I know it would need a lot of money and a lot of work by forestry experts and the like. The footpaths would need repairng, trees would need to be pruned and many dead ones taken out with maybe their trunks be used for seats and tables etc.

At the moment the place is overgrowing with weeds and nettles and nobody seems to be doing anything about it.

How about getting the local school pupils educated and intrested in the Dene, try to get them to respect the place. They could use the Dene for chilling out, a far cry from the horrible world of knives other parts of England are living in.

Create a camping area behind the castle itself for these kids to be used in the summer under supervision. There is plenty of room here for the caged portable football pitch that was used earlier in the year in the South of Sunderland. They could extend the kiddies play park below Hylton Castle, the stream that runs through could be widened and the pond at the Castletown end that now attracts plenty of anglers catching perch, bream and tench could be extended with fishing licences sold to go towards funding.

The castle grounds themselves could be used for numerous different activities every weekend, trampolines, crazy golf etc and even themed weekends i.e medieval days with Mick "the pen" Brown (the man who wants to knock the castle down), in the stocks for an hour or two providing the entertainment.
Big Al, the Cauld Lad's pal

Put Ryhope on map
FREQUENTLY we read about how Hendon is back on the map and how an area has been turned around. Excellent, it is said.

Today we read about the Raich Carter centre, that if you live in Hendon then you are entitled to half price entrances to all activities.

But what about all other areas of Sunderland? I think it's about time some financial help came our way for a change, to help the people in Ryhope.

Ryhope has unemployment, we have people who would like to take their kids to activities to the Raich Carter Centre but they just cannot afford it, especially if you have a few kids. These kids belong to the city of sunderland, too.

I read before the elections that our councillor was going to get things done in Ryhope. We have seen no evidence of anything happening.

What have we got? No shops or supermarket, no activity centres for the youths, we have one youth centre Blue Watch where you have to go on a waiting list to get in.
We have, however, got lots and lots of derelict buildings crying out for investors to revamp them for use in the community. What about a leisure centre and a swimming pool in Ryhope so people do not have to travel to get there, as public transport is expensive.

Why does it have to be silksworth? What about the kids and the youths in Ryhope? Give them a shot at having something that would give them some meaning, for them to have somewhere to go and to help stop them roaming the streets where thay do look intimidating in gangs, but a lot of the time they are good kids. Give them some purpose.

Where are our councillors? Where is the investment for Ryhope? Yes you built an advice centre and another library. We didn't need another libary but we got one. We need input and shops. Come on, put Ryhope back on the map please.
Mrs Karin Ibinson,
Athol Gardens.
Ryhope