BUS companies do not make the rules on concessionary travel for pensioners, the Government does nationally and local councils or Nexus provide extras for local residents.
G Sykes (Letters, May 6), asks why Durham pensioners can travel free early in the morning, while Tyne and Wear Pensioners must wait until 9.30am.
I cannot speak for County Durham, but like its local councils Nexus has received grants from Government to pay bus companies for providing free travel. We could not afford to provide free travel before 9.30am without taking money from other vital services we provide, such as taxis for disabled people, school bus services and cheaper fares for children and students.
We also feel extending free travel into the morning peak would not be appropriate when many bus services into our city centres are already busy at this time of day. It would also mean people over 60 who had ful-time jobs would be commuting for free, which is not what concessionary travel was intended for.
Nexus does provide "extras" to the national scheme where they matter most – all day travel for disabled passengers with full-time jobs or education courses, and free travel all day to passholders attending hospital appointments.
We also extend the offer to Metro with Gold Card for just £12 a year.
Free local bus travel for pensioners and disabled passengers anywhere in England was a great extra benefit when it came in on April 1, greatly extending what was on offer before and we feel most people are delighted with what is now on offer.
Huw Lewis,
Head of Corporate Communications, Nexus

Eccentric fan club
I THINK Mick Brown was very harsh in his recent attack on the Chuckle Brothers whose only crime is to make children laugh.
I have been to see them on a few occasions with my young daughters who were not there to be educated but to be entertained and they and the rest of the audience certainly enjoyed the performance.
The act is aimed at young children, not educated people like Mr Brown, who obviously has no sense of humour.
However, it begs the question what is going on at the Sunderland Echo office? They must get hundreds of letters every week but those from Mick Brown always appear to take centre stage.
I am not knocking Mick. In fact I think he is a very good writer who probably has a large eccentric fan club, although I would distance myself from his views.
He seems to have the ability to cause a real stir on the page about any trivial matter that is of no consequence to Wearside. Take for example his views on the discussions by OAPS in the post office queue.
Both the Echo and Mick Brown must realise that this is a local newspaper not the Viz or Private Eye magazine
John Marley,
Greta Terrace,
Sunderland

We'll face wrath
I MUST congratulate Peter Kerr of Fulwell for his eloquent letter concerning Hylton Castle (Echo, May 12). I agree with everything he said. It's about time it was demolished.
Of course I have written many times campaigning for its destruction, however I feel Peter will no doubt face the same wrath from the small-minded group who feel it should remain in its present state.
It's about time the descendants of the Hyton family who choose to live abroad put up or shut up. If they want the castle let them pay for its up keep, or better still let them take it to some far-off land where they can appreciate it.
Letters came from far and wide complaining about my stance on the matter but there were no offers to send financial help to restore it.
The fact is, it is us the taxpayers who will have to pay if it remains.
Those who say it will be a great wedding venue or an adventure playground are surely living in the realms of fantasy.
At the moment it is a target for vandals and drug users as well as a blot on the landscape. Any visitor would just think of it as a old ruin that serves no purpose.
While the future may be in housing, in its present state we must feel for the locals who have to put up with this monstrosity on their doorstep. The land would make a great site for a bingo hall or fast food outlet.
Mick The Pen Brown

Boating lake never intended for ducks
I WAS annoyed to read the letter about the duck being hit by a model boat.
First off, the lake was created as a model boating lake and was never intended for wildlife.
There are three other lakes which were created for wildlife.
I was also there on Sunday and I do not know of any duck being injured. None of the members would hit any wildlife intentionally and avoid doing so at all costs even if boats are damaged to do so
The members of the club are all members of the MPBA, Model Power Boat Association and stick to strict guidelines, with insurance.
P Simpson,
South Pelaw,
Chester-le-Street

Who approved it?
IN response to the letter written by D Jeffries, I would fully support his comments having witnessed myself along with countless other visitors to the park the terrifying of wildlife by speedboats on the lake at Herrington Country Park.
I am a frequent visitor to the park and have noted this is allowed to happen. Not only do the birds have the living daylights terrified out of them so also do the people who like to visit the park to enjoy the peace and quiet.
One elderly couple I spoke to recently were enjoying refreshments and a sandwich hurried away as the screaming monstrosities started to speed around the lake. D Jeffries very kindly describes those responsible as "grown men". This surely is an insult to any self-respecting man to label them as such. They don't only practise this cruelty on a weekend, this behaviour is also repeated during the week.
People I have spoken to all comment on the size of the machines. The red and white boats in particular are not small toy boats used by children, not even those using them can control them. How they must appear to wildlife hardly bears thinking about.
What concerns people is the safety of birds on the lake who are huddled in a small corner and are unable to get out of the way of these machines and especially at the present time when young birds are being reared.
I raised my concerns last year with the country range wardens Andy and Kevin who are doing a grand job with the park. They were very sympathetic and concerned about the danger to the birds but they explained it was beyond their control as the lake had been designated as a boating lake.
What I and countless other people would question is who has approved this and why should it be allowed to continue to the detriment of the wildlife inhabiting the lake?
Would the local Labour Councillor Anne Hall who sought re-election to the Shiney Row Ward and who recently outlined her priorities on further development and improving the facilities in Herrington Park kindly take an interest. May I suggest Anne takes note and listens (as Gordon Brown has not done and recently found to his detriment), to the people she has promised to represent and takes action immediately on the above concerns.
Kelly

No pockets in shrouds
WOULDN'T it be nice if Sir Peter Vardy gave a text message to Duncan Bannatyne, also Sting, whose photos were in the Echo, saying come on lads let's donate the rest of the money to the Grace House Appeal to build the badly needed hospice in Sunderland for the children who have cancer.
There are more than 100, also children who are in wheelchairs. Many people are trying their best, people who have lost loved ones always mentioned in the Echo, family flowers only. Donations to Grace House Appeal.
Come on lads there's no pockets in shrouds. Have a heart.
Mrs Grace Cassidy,
Fee Terrace,
Sunderland

Well done, Asda
AS a blue badge holder I read with interest the letter from a parent of a qualified driver who has to vent their frustration in the Echo because they have paid their child's £100 Asda parking fee for obstructing a disabled persons vehicle space! (Echo, April 28).
Asda is under a legal obligation, under Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, to provide marked out disabled parking spaces and ensure they are available to disabled persons.
This is a 24/7 requirement and if Asda or any other public car park provider failed to comply they would be at risk of greater penalties brought on behalf of a disabled person.
The writer seems to think that there is no problem with obstructing disabled facilities at 7am or after 7pm and is concerned about able- bodied people who wish to shop at Asda at 10pm, many disabled people shop out of peak hours because they do not want to be knocked over, shoved, pushed, blocked, verbally abused, by general customers and there is more room to sidestep staff running around or pushing industrial loading trolleys!
Asda should be very pleased with themselves as one ticket has dissuaded two drivers from obstructing disabled facilities. As for being frustrated about the £100 fee, perhaps your child learnt the habit from you!
Three Cheers for Asda!
Sunderland

Time to rejoice
UNLIKE the new Tory councillor, Alan Wright, Mr W Quinn's and my own political motivation is as independent observers behind the Labour party, its past record and the horrendous situation it inherited in 1997.
Our political aspiration did not extend beyond that. Vedra (Echo, May 9), should take note an independent observer meant just that, "independent", under no political restraint, be it council or national party.
The ambitious Alan Wright was obviously under the Tory whip and therefore limited in his assertions. Boy didn't it show?
However, a true Tory would shudder at his election, but our Labour council should rejoice.
Fred Brady,
Honeycomb Close,
Hall Farm,
Sunderland

WASHINGTON'S got Talent – I recently attended a X-factor type talent show, held at Pit Stop, Washington. I would like to praise all the young people who performed and all who came to support their friends. Many parents and grandparents also attended, thought some of the music was a bit loud it was a brilliant night, with singers, dancing, musicians and budding DJs all performing. Well done young people of Washington. I hope you go on to bigger and better things.
Dianne Snowdon,
Roche Court
Glebe
Washington

I WOULD like to say thank you to Maureen and Douglas Ambrose for their help given to me when it was most needed. Also Brenda and Alan, relations, friends and neighbours for their support, cards and flowers. God bless you all.
Lilian Taylor,
Red House,
Sunderland

COULD the woman that phoned me nearly two weeks ago about a black SD memory card for a phone please get in touch to this number 07858999700 or 5361331 as it has sentimental footage of my grandchildren on etc. Thank you.
NP Molloy,
Bexhill Square,
Town End Farm,
Sunderland

MAY I thank the lady or gentleman who handed my security bag in. I only wish you had left your name and address. Thank you very much.
Mrs G Potts,
St Luke's Road,
Pennywell,
Sunderland

NOW that Bob Symonds is no longer leader of Sunderland Council, can his successor Paul Watson reveal where the millions received for the council house sales and Newcastle Airport shares went to? A request was made via the Echo Letters this year, yet no response appears to have been made public.
As full council taxpayer, along with many others, we are entitled to know.
Disgusted Pensioner