IT always seems to me that to aspire to be a special place a city has to have a vision and ambition not based on that crudest of common denominators, short-term cost.

I would venture that our council leaders will not debate too long over which of these bridge designs to choose. They will inevitably choose the bog standard one for all the wrong reasons, instead of making a bold statement of intent as to the city's future and regeneration and choosing the Stephen Spence design.

A great city needs iconic architecture and grand ideas and it is not beyond the wit of those in power to encourage this.

I am always amazed at the differences in achievement between the ruling Labour council in Gateshead and the council here. Maybe the leader of the council, Coun Paul Watson, should get a few tips from his counterpart over there about how to go about things. Then again let's not hold our breath. This is Sunderland.

Maybe we should get Niall Quinn involved. He seems to have more success in putting Sunderland back on the map than any of our civic leaders.
Ed Bartley,
Newlands Avenue,
Sunderland

Lost on some
IT'S a concern that the Echo only seems to interview certain types when considering public opinion on projects as important as the proposed new bridge.

Elderly, youths or the unemployed, such as a certain person from Grindon who made the comment: "I don't like the one by Stephen Spence.

It is OK but I don't like the things sticking up at the top". Oh! That would be the iconic design you're referring to, would it?

It's unfortunate, but the striking design by Spence is obviously lost on some who roam the city centre during the day, while thousands of others work the day away. Hence no-one who was at work had been interviewed then.

I hope people come to their senses and push the council for the iconic design.

Let's face it, the Vaux site is still derelict after almost 10 years. That wouldn't have been allowed to happen anywhere else in the UK. Not 10 years surely. You could understand if the site was on the outskirts of Sunderland.
M Tomlinson,
Membury Close,
Sunderland

Wake up, council
WHY do we have Sunderland Council coming out with scare stories about rises in Council Tax to try to frighten people about the cost of the iconic bridge?
What about the old chestnut of the Town Hall that was allowed to be destroyed by our Labour councillors? What about Seaburn fountain, Ambit etc.
Can't these councillors wake up and realise that we need leaders who lead?
Bryan Foster,
Thomas Street,
Sunderland

Add a webcam
TO help with the cost of the new bridge maybe a live webcam and phone mast could be incorporated into the design of the proposed twirly bits. The webcam could provide panoramic regional views of Sunderland and its neighbours to a global audience.
S Chapman,
Newbold Avenue,
Sunderland

I was disappointed
I HAVE followed the story of the proposed new Wear bridge and the choices available with interest. I am writing to you to register my disappointment at the way in which you presented the story.
The front page began with scaremongering headlines about the supposed cost of the iconic design and possible threats to services, as well as increases in council taxes for years to come.
This was followed by subsequent articles inside the paper portraying the views of the "general public" (despite not being a remotely scientific study), a vast majority of which were against the Stephen Spence's design.
Then, hidden away at the end of an inside article, are the results of the survey showing a vast majority of people in favour of the above-mentioned option.
I believe the iconic bridge will at last put Sunderland on the regional and national map after so many years of living in the shadow of our neighbours in Newcastle and Durham, as well as offering an amazing welcome to visitors and businesses from around the world.
Chris Young,
Sunderland

Author's a Lib-Dem
THE photograph of a very scholary Dr Tim Leunig has certainly been very prominent in the Echo recently. In his recent column it appeared next to a tirade of criticism of the Conservative Party from Chris Mullin MP, based on the report written by the academic doctor about cities and how we should all push off and live in the South.
But people have not been doing their homework before going into print. This includes our current MP and many other contributors to the Echo, for this Dr Leunig whom they have linked directly or by inference to David Cameron and the Conservative Party in general, is a former candidate for the Liberal Democrats in the London Borough elections of 1998.
Move forward about 10 years and our friend emerges yet again in Liberal Democrat Party circles.
So in plain English Dr Leunig, who wrote this misguided report, was and is a Liberal Democrat sympathiser and former potential politician.
For the sake of accuracy it would be a welcome sign of mature politics if Chris Mullin could revisit his column and then issue a retraction in his next.
And if anyone wants to take this further there is more. The report, Cities Unlimited, had a co-author who also has connections with the Liberal Democrats. End of story?
Coun Michael Dixon, Conservative
St Chad's Ward,,
Sunderland

I dine a la carte on quail's eggs
MY caddy reckons that Sunderland's pubs give the best value for money meal deals in the UK. He tells me that in some places two people can eat for less than a tenner.
Personally I usually dine a la carte, enjoying quail's eggs and breast of guinea fowl when I eat out.
The point is with all these cheap meals on the go it's less exspensive to eat in a pub than it is in the house. Maybe that is why there is a lack of home cooking on Wearside. I know that a popular phrase is: "What do you want to eat before the chip shop shuts".
In the old days mince and dumplings, panhackelty and toad in the hole were very popular but how many Wearsiders cook these meals now? Not many I guess. It's too much trouble so they nip to a chinese buffet were you can eat as much as you want for a fiver.
It's the same at the carveries. They pile as much as they can on the plate then go back for more, not a bit embarrassed at their greed.
My caddy goes three times a week to these places. I have tried to educate him telling him to broaden his horizens but he will not listen.
Everything has to come with chips.
Give me oysters and lobster every time along with silver service at the captain's table.
Mick "The Pen" Brown

Does Mick wear top hat and tails?
I WAS puzzled but also amused by Mick "The Pen's" letter (Echo, Sept 2),
on his solution to his caddy's displeasure at having to rub shoulders with punk rockers, chavs, baseball caps and intimidating clothing wearers on his journey on Wearside buses, no doubt on his way to caddy for Mick at his golf club.
Mick (who does not use public transport), wants the double-decker buses to segregate the upper deck for use at a few extra coppers as a first class compartment, and to ban folk with baseball caps and wearing intimidating clothing.
I had a good chuckle at that. Only a few weeks ago I was watching the British Open Golf Championship on the telly and every golfer and caddy wore baseball caps and the clothes the golfers wore were so vividly intimidating. I had to put my shades on to watch the play.
It's common knowledge that wearing baseball caps and vivid, intimidating clothes are designer wear among the golfing fraternity.
That's what puzzles me. What do Mick and his caddy wear plodding around an 18-hole golf course – top hat and tails?
Pal Palmer,
Dame Dorothy Crescent,
Monkwearmouth,
Sunderland

Ahoy shipmates!
HMS LOCH Fada Shipmates are still looking for their old messmates from the Second World War Escort Group 1944-1945, the Londonderry Flotilla 1946-1952, Persian Gulf 1955-1962 and the Far East 1963-1967.
Contact has been made with more than 300 shipmates worldwide. This is only a fraction of those who served on her, and even given the passage of time there has to be many more still about.
We are looking for them to join us at our 12th annual reunion at Skegness in March 2009, or if they are unable to make it, to just make contact. It would be great to hear from them, either way.
Nothing gives us greater pleasure in putting two old "oppos" back in contact which has been done on many occasions.
Contact Bob Harris, Secretary, for further information, 12 Allendale Road, Sholing, Southampton, SO19 1DG, Tel. 023 8039 1848 or e-mail bobharrisf390@supanet.com
Bob Harris,
Sholing,
Southampton

Quarry quarrel
I HOPE the residents of Hetton and Houghton are aware of the two planning applications which have been made for Eppleton Quarry.
The first is to extend the present working until 2013. The second is for a new quarry to take much of the beautiful magnesium limestone escarpment for the next 20 years.
Five years ago the council told us that this was just a "restoration scheme" and had nothing to do with opening a new quarry. The planning permission is supposed to expire in 2008. Residents were promised that the mineral extraction which was being allowed was merely as part of the restoration scheme and not as a renewal of quarrying.
When I wrote to the Echo originally about this, I was concerned because of the traffic implications for Houghton through Seaham Road, the Market Place and Lake area. I also said that I did not think it was restoration scheme, but a means of getting a planning permission for quarrying, by subterfuge. I was proved right.
Why should there be an extension to the time limit? The company was fully aware of the site, the minerals contained and the work to be undertaken. The plan was to re-work the site to remove coal, red shale etc., regrade the sides of the former quarry and use the rest of the former spoil heap to landscape the area as a restoration scheme.
Instead the company just opened a new quarry and is also using the opportunity to import thousands of tonnes of alien material: bricks, concrete etc. on to the site which they appear to be reworking. This material is carried on wagons through the Lake, Market Place and Seaham Road areas of Houghton from 6am causing disturbance and danger to residents.
This is a cynical abuse of the planning system. I urge residents to write to the planning department to object to both an extension to the present planning permission or the grant of a new permission.
Sheila Ellis,
Church Street,
Houghton

BEGIN THE BEIJING
WHEN Britain began the Beijing
Praying, watching the torch bearing flames
Never expecting so many medals
In the 2008 Olympic games
The most success in the last 100 years
19 gold, 13 silver, 15 bronze
Filling all our eyes with immense joyful tears
Fielding a team of supermen and young Amazons
Last but not least we must thank Tony Jeffries
Who now enters Sunderland City's Hall of Fame
Arriving back home with an Olympic boxing medal
Won in what must be one of Beijing's hardest games
Stan McKinney,
Lynthorpe,
Ryhope,
Sunderland

I THANK my daughter Lyn, son-in-law Alistair and granddaughter Kelly for organising a surprise birthday party for my 80th. There are too many people to mention them all but I thank all my family and friends for all the cards, presents and flowers I received, which were beautiful. A big thank you for all the money that was given and a donation in memory of my beloved husband Joe and two dearly loved brothers, Jack and Tom McNally. Thanks to your generosity we were able to present the Grace House Appeal with £500 and this also made my 80th just perfect. Thank you all.
Eva Foster,
Clacton Road,
Hylton Castle,
Sunderland

I COLLECT football memorabilia and recently bought a Victorian scrapbook album which has, stuck inside it, an invitation card to a Mr G E Gales to a dance, from Sunderland Football Club to be held at the Garrison Hall on November 16, 1882. On the card the secretary of the the club was a F J Trewhitt Woodside. Was this dance evening maybe a fundraising event? Can anyone tell me if Garrison Hall had connections to the club?
Andy George,
Cardiff,
email: andy.george@tiscali.co.uk
Telephone: 02920 400368

WITH reference to the article "Sign of Trouble" (Echo, September 5), I would like any person who has complained about the sign on the Queen Vic to state why they have cause to complain.
The sign does not shine through anyone's windows as there are no houses opposite. I surely can't see how anyone can complain about it as it complements the seafront and brightens up the area. As Mr Griffiths stated, those flats used to be an eyesore and he has merely done some improvements to better the area.
So come on, Sunderland Council, share the vision of Mr Griffiths and other people like him.
Ian Leadbitter,
Independent Candidate,
Redhill Ward