THE Echo reported that at Doxford International, T Mobile is applying to double its car parking space and applying for cycling racks to encourage cyclingto work.

This comes weeks after one of the major employers on the park unveiled a detailed travel plan including car sharing and work pattern changes which will reduce the need for parking space.

These are the measures which I and my council colleague Leslie Scott backed when the Doxford International overspill problem was at its height.

The council taxpayer should not be subsidising the many mega-rich companies on the park and a stand should be taken against car congestion.

St Chad's Councillor Robert Oliver supported by Tory transport spokesman Councillor Peter Wood supported the view that the council taxpayer should pay for more tarmacadam on the business park. They even moved a motion at council to spent £300,000 of council resources on their solution.

Sunderland Tories have tried to promote themselves as being careful with public funds. During my time on the council the opposite was true. Spend, spend appeared to be their mantra.
Stuart Porthouse,
Middle Herrington

Face up to reality
AFTER reading the letter by Gary Duncan, I wondered which planet he came from, then I thought perhaps he was from a place that houses deluded people.
Larp – an abbreviation of the Left Alternative Respect Party – never heard of it. I wouldn't like to put my idea of what it represents on paper.
I was a child during the Second World War when bombs were dropping like snowflakes over Britain. The British servicemen who were defending people like me averaged an age of 21 years, similar to today's servicemen. They too carried guns and grenades.
In war, it is a kill or be killed situation – a fact of life. These British servicemen will always be heroes.
You can't fight terrorists and suicide bombers with words, these illiterate people are the real killers.
I would suggest that Mr Duncan takes his head out of the sand and faces reality.
GBS

Speed limits
I AM wondering what speed you can drive in a built-up area?
I don't know what is going on in other areas, but I do know that Cleveland Road has got some individuals coming up and down in their cars as if on a race track.
This has been going on for a long time now. What concerns me is how no-one has been injured or killed. I'm a driver and I know what is acceptable driving and what isn't.
It's not a case of being one-in-a-million driver. It's being sensible about the potential killer in your hands.
People will not be for bumps in the road or cameras being put up, but what has got to be done to stop this?
I don't want to see someone killed, that's for sure.
B Crute,
Cleveland Road,
Sunderland

Put art on the map
HAVING visited the Washington Arts Centre Open Exhibition, the first one ever at this site, I was extremely impressed.
Such a variety of subjects, styles and standards, including heartfelt emotions poured out on to canvas. It made my hour visit a one to treasure.
One felt somewhat sad though seeing only a trickle of people coming through the doors. Perhaps it's been limited publicity or could it be we're not in London?
I'd be the last one ever to say "I love London!" Yet their art galleries bring in huge international audiences and revenue we only dream of.
We have to make a start to put the area on the map for art.
James Chambers,
Rickleton Village Centre,
Washington

Tartan terrors
THE recent debate concerning mobility scooters has raised a few eyebrows in the Echo, but there is a far more dangerous scenario on the pavement – I refer of course to the tartan shopping trolley.
These are usually used by an unofficial army of elderly tartan terrors with a high and mighty attitude: "Don't mess with me, I own the pavement."
No-one seems to know who invented these wretched things or why they are tartan, but quite frankly they are a menace to society and seem to be on every high street.
You never see them outside the UK, so obviously they are not a migratory species, but they appear to be as much part of Wearside's landscape as the flat cap.
Why can't these folks just go back to using a wicker basket, this would be a lot safer for everyone.
If the Scots did invent this they have a lot to answer for, but I say ban them now!
Mick "The Pen" Brown

Academy backing
THE people of Sunderland should be 100 per cent behind the head and staff of Academy 360 with their no nonsense and zero tolerance approach to discipline and organisation.
May it spread to other schools in the city. The whole purpose of the academies is to make a difference.
When the school results reach average performance maybe the moans and groans, from no doubt a minority of pupils, could be considered.
Please let's not have parents backing their kids and doing them a disservice.
Leslie Scott,
East Herrington