AS the Durham Gala approaches, quite rightly billed as the most famous event in the British Labour and trade union calendar, many of our local unitary authority Labour council members will no doubt be reflecting with pride the turmoil, struggle and achievements, and the many battles fought won and lost – they must recognise it for what it was and bow their heads in shame.

How can you move with pride and dignity and respect whilst others in your number sit uncertain?

How can you speak in admiration of the unity and strength while you allow others to be separated and weakened awaiting in humiliation?
Others who fought alongside you against the repression and ambition to divide and conquer our trade union movement fight alone repression and ambition.

Miners were infamously called "the enemy within" by a Tory Prime Minister hell-bent on dismantling the coal industry

The suspended five and the Easington CLP are now viewed as the enemy within by a Labour NEC seemingly hell-bent on dismantling the Labour Party

"All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing".
Kevin Shaw,
Maureen Terrace,
Seaham

UK tax in Cyprus
CAN anyone tell me why my son-in-law, who is in the RAF Cyprus, has to pay council tax, and doesn't get the same facilities as we do in the UK?

They were told that is because Cyprus is in UK waters.

They are allowed so many gallons of water per month, and private swimming pools costs £45 to fill, and it has not rained for many many months there.

They, my daughter and three grandchildren live there as well.
A bit unfair when they have to pay it, as they don't come back to the UK until two years time, and on leave once a year, maybe.

If they get a pay rise, does the UK/Cyprus council tax go up as well?
Ed Keogh,
Pendle Close,
Lambton,
Washington

Well aware of rats
THE Conservative councillors for Fulwell are well aware of the problem of rats in the Ward and an extensive visit was made to Queen's Parade and Sea Road on the morning of Saturday 31 May.

Rats abound wherever they can feed. To reduce access to food, residents and shop keepers are advised to place all edible waste in bins that are in good repair, clean and kept locked. These same bins should be put out only on those days set aside for waste collection. This will also reduce the the incidents of vandalism.

We wish to thank the staff of the Civic Centre who have co-operated fully with us and shown initiative in helping us with this problem.
If residents have any further or other concerns, one of us is in attendance at Fulwell library each Saturday morning for one hour beginning at 10.30.
Councillors Bob Francis, George Howe, Jack Walton

No price rises here
ALL you hear about these days is the credit crunch, inflation and the cost of living.

No doubt visitors to the pound shop will be celebrating. They have never had a single price rise in years but I still won't go near the place.

I bet they don't have one of these shops in Surrey or the Cotswolds and they shouldn't have one in what is supposed to be a forward-thinking city. It is hardly likely to attract affluent types. It makes Wearside a laughing stock. Let's hope with the cost of inflation it closes.
Mick "The Pen" Brown

Powers abused
REPORTS in some newspapers covered the use of terror laws by council officials.

One case highlighted was the well reported use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) by Poole Council in Dorset to track parents suspected of cheating the school catchment system.

This council also used the same powers to spy on fishermen to determine if they were illegally gathering shellfish.

Bad enough if these were isolated incidents. However, it turns out that some 12 councils have used an Act of Parliament designed to defeat terrorism for surveillance into dog fouling, misuse of disabled parking, employees working while off sick, fly-tipping, selling counterfeit goods and more.

Our very own Sunderland City Council has used these powers on 15 authorised occasions. This has taken the form of physical surveillance of members of the public and the recording of photographic images regarding the sale of counterfeit goods, tobacco purchases, benefits investigations and Asbo investigation.

Remember the worries that were expressed when this legislation was going through Parliament and the assurances that this would only be used in the fight against terrorism?

This is what makes current proposals for detention for 42 days without trial so worrying. The same assurances will be made but should we not worry with these powers in the hands of officialdom?
Councillor Alan Wright,
Conservative,
St Chad's Ward,
Sunderland