Unitary authorities

11:43am Saturday 28th July 2007

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IN February 1918, universal suffrage became law in the UK. On Wednesday, July 25, 2007 this right was effectively abolished for County Durham residents who voted by 76 per cent in a referendum against a unitary council, but clearly we don't matter in our growing dictatorship.

Gordon Brown recently declared he would "listen and learn". This is clearly not the case.

Our Labour MP, Roberta Blackman-Woods, is fully behind this ambush on democracy. It was clear at full council on Tuesday, July 24, that Durham City Labour councillors don't have an opinion, don't support constituents' views and don't care about democracy.

In Afghanistan, our hard-working armed forces are fighting to preserve and build a sustainable democracy while back home their own Government is taking away our liberties.

The Labour Party is now more conservative than the Tories, less democratic than Communists, and out of touch with the people of County Durham.

We can only hope Labour councillors in Wear Valley, Derwentside, Easington, Sedgefield, Chester-le-Street and Teesdale, who believe in democracy, stick to their principles and walk out of their party. As for the Durham City Labour Party and our MP - they should be ashamed of themselves.

Councillor Mark Wilkes, Liberal Democrat, Durham City Council.

VOTER apathy in this country is at its highest. Consideration is being given to lowering the minimum age to vote and to whether voting should be compulsory.

I have always voted even though, on many occasions, the choice of candidate has been poor. I support the democratic process, warts and all. Why, then, after an Electoral Reform Society-run referendum, costing no doubt thousands of pounds, paid for by the taxpayer, does central Government run roughshod over the democratic decision?

I refer to the decision to impose a unitary authority on County Durham against the wishes of its electorate.

I note from your coverage (Echo, July 26) that at least three Labour MPs who have in the past depended heavily on local councils (usually Labour-run) support a unitary authority. They talk of it reflecting communities' voices. The referendum spoke for the people.

Why is it ignored?

This Labour Government, which has over the past ten years ignored the will of the people in all areas, drives a stake through the heart of democracy. Long live the People's Republic of New Labour.

Colin T Mortimer, Pity Me, Durham City.

GORDON Brown promised he would listen. The result? He and his Government have ignored the people of County Durham and intend to impose a single local authority upon us, despite the fact that three-quarters of us said no in a referendum.

Even worse, he intends to impose the EU Constitution upon us, without giving us the chance to express an opinion, thus breaking his party's manifesto commitment.

If he is listening at all, which I doubt, he certainly is not going to take any notice of us. I'm not surprised. Mr Brown clearly has always believed he, and he alone, is the only one in the country capable of deciding what is good for us.

What really surprises me is that so many people seem to think he was a good Chancellor and will make a good Prime Minister. History will recall him as the opposite, but meanwhile what huge damage to our country will he be responsible for before we come to our senses at the ballot box?

Derek Thornton, Stanley Crook, Co Durham.

THE logic of abolishing the existing district councils and having a single authority in Durham and Northumberland is that all-purpose authorities have worked well.

We see examples of this in the area once served by Cleveland County Council.

Where the Government's proposals make no sense is when we hear that the same reform is not contemplated in Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

If having fewer officers working more efficiently is the determining factor, in theory at least it would be a good idea to amalgamate the allpurpose authorities in the Cleveland area and return to the once-tried Teesside authority.

The Government seems just to want to tinker, and it appears that it just wants to make ad hoc changes here and there.

Geoffrey Bulmer, Billingham.

WHAT was the point in holding a referendum over whether we should leave the local authority set-up in County Durham as it is, or change to one central council when I understand more than 70 per cent of people wanted things to stay as they are now?

This is an insult to the people of the North-East. Not only has it been a waste of money, but what will be the cost in terms of the councils' workforce? Don't people's views count?

JM Gowland, Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham.