In Sunderland we plan to have the best possible nursery and primary education for all children.

Sunderland City Council is inviting parents and carers to offer their views on the nursery and primary education of the future.

The council has to make sure that there are the right number of nursery and primary school places to meet the needs of children in Sunderland now and in the future.

The council has to plan for the future provision of education for 0 to 11-year-olds for 2020 and beyond – and needs the help of parents, carers, governors, teachers, staff and everyone else connected to schools.

We all want schools to be at the heart of the community, with childcare and community facilities easily available. The council has collated much information which now available to be shared and discussed with everyone who is interested in the planning process.

A series of open consultation meetings are being held at various school locations for parents and carers as well as those working in and with schools.

In Washington the event will be held for Washington School Cluster at Washington Millennium Centre, Concord, for Biddick School cluster at Harraton Skills Centre, for Oxclose School Culster at Washington Multi-Purpose Centre on Monday, May 19, starting at 6pm. The event for St Robert's School Cluster is on May 20 at Washington Multi-Purpose Centre.

For the future of our children please get involved.
Dianne Snowdon,
Councillor Washington Central Ward

We won't go away
I THANK the people of Castle Ward who voted for me and The Left List in the local elections. I'd also like to assure them that, although we were defeated, we are not going away. There is a need for a real socialist alternative to New Labour, and we are determined to offer that choice to the electorate.

Labour has widened the gap between rich and poor by continuing the work of their Tory predecessors. A rich minority prosper while working class people struggle to cope with a steep rise in the cost of living.

They have also sent our kids off to fight wars for oil and lied to the public to justify these illegal imperialist ventures. We must never forgive them for this. They have blood on their hands.

The Left List is a party with genuine Labour values. We are anti-war and anti-privatisation. We are funded by our membership and not by rich business. And we are going to take New Labour votes wherever we stand because New Labour is not Labour at all.
Gary Duncan,
The Left List,
Hylton Castle,
Sunderland

Respectable result
I THANK everyone who supported me in the elections on May 1. A big thank you to the 809 people who voted for me and giving me a respectable result in a Conservative ward. It is a shame I couldn't get more, especially due to the national issues, but c'est la vie.

Another big thank you to those who helped me during the campaign with leaflets, etc. I couldn't have done it without you all. My thanks especially go out to, in no particular order, Carol Freeman, Ian Galbraith, Les Scott, Mary Smith and Bob Symonds for your time, hard work and advice.
Philip Routledge,
Labour Candidate For Barnes

I'll work for you
I THANK all constituents of the Silksworth Ward areas for their continued support and votes in the recent local elections.
I gratefully appreciate this and will continue to work hard on your behalf.
Councillor Pat Smith,
New Silksworth,
Sunderland

They weren't there
I REFER to the Echo article on April 11, 2008, referring to the opportunity to meet your councillor between 10.0 am and noon.
I took time out of work to go to The Galleries area office.

Incidentally, it is the gentoo office on the upper level. The Galleries do not recognise what the "area office" is.

I wanted to see a Washington councillor to see if they could help me, only to find out when I arrived at 11.40am that there were no councillors there.

I was told at reception there was normally one councillor there, which would be Derek Sleightholme but he had rang in and was not going to be there.

I had taken an hour off work for this and I was extremely frustrated that the councillor just did not bother to turn up.

I just think Echo readers need to know this, so in future they would be better off ringing first to make sure their councillor can be bothered to turn up.

Mr Sleightholme is no longer a councillor now, I understand
E Thompson,
Thornbridge,
Teal Farm,
Washington

Who knows?
IN the late 1960s and early 1970s, many readers may remember seeing a round piece of black elephant's hide outside a shop in High Street West, nearly opposite the arcade. If my memory serves me well, it was off an elephant that died at a circus in the town many moons ago. Do any other readers have any knowledge of the hide's history and what happened to it?
Peter,
Sunderland


THANK you to all the residents in Millfield Ward for their support in the recent elections. I look forward to working on your behalf over the next four years.
Coun Paul Dixon,
Liberal Democrat,
Millfield Ward

MY thanks to the resisdents of Fulwell, Seaburn and South Bents for electing me as your Conservative councillor. I am delighted to be continuing my connections with the ward. I will be joining councillors Jack Walton and George Howe for ward surgeries on Saturday mornings in Fulwell Library. My congratulations to all my Conservative colleagues who were elected.
Bob Francis,
Conservative Councillor, Fulwell

CANDIDATES Alan Napier and Alice Naylor would like to express their sincere thanks and appreciation to the residents of Murton and Dalton-le-Dale for their support in the May 1st county elections. We look forward to serving all residents in the Ward and if you have any problems please do not hesitate to contact Alan on 0191 5264948 or Alice on 5261007.
Alan Napier and Alice Naylor

TORIES gaining four seats.on Wearside was positve news. Let's hope the Tories take control of Sunderland City Council in the next 2010 election.
Peter Kerr,
Sunderland