I would like to begin by saying that the Fire and Rescue Service is recognised in its present form as one of the best services in the country.
So as a resident of Holywell and Blyth Valley, I too share some of the concerns being expressed, not only by the FBU, some councillors and the public at large, in Blyth Valley, that if the present proposals are accepted Blyth Valley will lose its two fire stations at Blyth and Cramlington.
Before moving onto my individual concerns, I would just like to express my surprise at the chief fire officer's apparent abrasive attitude to anyone opposing or questioning any of the new proposals, where he indicated that people opposing or questioning were doing so in self interest.
So I will assure you that any comments coming from me are from a senior citizen, not using this as an exercise to forward my own career, political or otherwise. If the object of the exercise is to win the hearts and minds of the people of Blyth Valley, then I would suggest to fire chiefs and politicians that the best way to do this is to be prepared to listen to alternative views and ideas and not dismiss them out of hand.
I personally take issue with a number of points in the proposals. Firstly, in taking note of Mr Hesler's statistics on RTAs against fire incidents, with the emphasis towards RTAs. I find it hard to understand how the closure of Cramlington and Morpeth, which are both nearer to the A1 than Pegswood and East Sleekburn, would be a better option. Considering the Spine Road, surely Cramlington is ideally situated at the moment.
My second point is response times. Firstly, I will be parochial - living in Holywell, Cramlington fire station's response time is approximately seven minutes. The response time from East Sleekburn is a theoretical ten minutes, an extra three minutes. I can no way see this as an improvement of maintaining the excellent service we already have. If you then take into consideration Blyth, Seaton Sluice, Seghill, Seaton Delaval and New Hartley, response times will be adversely affected.
A further concern is manning levels. During a visit to Coun Hillman's surgery, I raised the issue of manning levels, as at that time it was planned to change from a five man four man crew to two four man crews. I also raised the issue of manning levels full-time and retained fire-fighters. While the chief fire officer has quoted "there will be no redundancies", can he give an assurance that within the future full time firefighter vacancies will not be replace by retained firefighters, ie part-time?
An additional piece of information, the projected increase in housing from 2001 until 2016 in Blyth Valley is 2,400 plus, and in Wansbeck it is 1,050, yet Wansbeck will have two ultra modern fire stations, Blyth Valley will have none. No wonder Wansbeck MP Denis Murphy stated he had no problems with the proposals.
My final concern is that I am led to believe that a number of Blyth Valley county councillors have already expressed their support to the present proposals. Being parochial, once again, can I ask: "How can you support a proposal that will extend the response time to fire and emergency calls in Holywell?" My understanding is that you are in office to do the best for your constituents!
I appreciate I am only one voice, but I implore the people of Blyth Valley to at least make themselves aware of how these changes might affect you and your family, so please start asking your county councillors where they stand on this issue and why.
MR J R MANDERSON
Tillmouth Avenue
Holywell



How we can reclaim the human spirit...

RESEARCH has shown that of those people surveyed, most residents in the borough were satisfied with reading information on housing and social issues courtesy of their local newspaper. The results are hardly surprising as people find a common thread in the written word, consequently they find an affinity or certain loyalty to the local rag.
A sentiment sadly, people seem unable to apply to the rest of their life even though our face is the best biography.
Recently the nation reeled back in horror at the London bombings. Events, which saw Britain's religious and political leaders, make their biggest call ever in inviting the population to learn a better understanding of all cultures.
Learning though, is a process of learning in itself. Give a man a fish and you'll feed him for a week, teach him to fish and you'll feed him for a lifetime. Remember that.
Because if we remember nothing we learn nothing. And what people remember most about culture is the Millennium Dome debacle, French men walking round Newcastle with loaves of bread strapped to their head, or a soon to be metal spoon plonked in a Cramlington field.
This 'culture' resonates with people because it has about as much relevance as a turkey twizzler. Yet just a couple of decades ago culture did have significance. People would chat over the low paling fence to borrow a cup of sugar or half a dozen eggs from our neighbour. This was not community spirit. Buildings, roads, street corners and policies do not possess 'spirit'.
What we were experiencing then, and what is being called for now, is a return to nurturing our inner spirit. Those values and beliefs, our soul and mind-set, that make us human.
As any good editor knows, the skill in communicating a message effectively lies in knowing your audience. And when events like the London bombings unfold the humanness in us can feel quite fragile, powerless, and insignificant.
We look to others to change the world for us, almost in the belief that someone will come up with an Alice in Wonderland solution to help society understand each other better. But the one place we can't look is to the biggest audience known to mankind: Ourselves.
During the recent heat wave it was like a breath of fresh air to see neighbours sitting out in their deck chairs not behind walls, wrought iron fencing or tall leylandii hedging. They sat on an open path outside their home while to passers by looked on in almost disbelief.
Great Britain has talked about cultures since the Falklands, the death knell of the mining industry, Bosnia, the Gulf War, the Dunblane massacre, 9/11, and now London. And what is the community's response?
Neighbours complain about Collared Doves and the dawn chorus upsetting their sleep or the teenager listening to their favourite music with friends, as Whitney Houston captures splendidly: 'The greatest love of all is learning to love yourself'.
Culture is whatever people want it to be. It values ordinariness in people with equal enthusiasm as it does the ivory tower dwellers. By simply treating others, as they would expect to be treat themselves. That's about as simple as it gets. Reclaiming that collective human spirit, we tag community spirit, starts with your own attitude to life. And what a start! Following tragedies like those witnessed in London, it is all too universal to pause in a moment's stillness. But in spreading this word of cultural harmony are people really that courageous enough to ask what it is we've all been doing more of the same now for years? Try the words: 'silence' and 'inaction'.
ALAN SAVAGE
Alston Avenue
Cramlington



Events portrayed town at its best

IT DOESN'T take much to say thank you and I expected this week's letters columns to be full of correspondence expressing appreciation of the two biggest events in Blyth for many a year.
Perhaps, therefore, I may be presumptuous and speak on behalf of the many people I have talked to over the past two weeks who were full of praise for Blyth's Summer Town Fair and the Tall Ships weekend.
Both were blessed with good weather but more particularly with good organisation. Both were well attended and there was a happy, family atmosphere throughout.
Both portrayed Blyth at its best; not only to those who live here but also to the many who travelled from all over the north east to see the Tall Ships in particular.
So, a big thank you to town centre manager Malcolm Hutchinson and his small team for all the effort that goes into organising the self-funded annual Summer Town Fair. Likewise to David Lodge and his team, Blyth Valley Council and the other partners involved with the Tall Ships weekend - it was money well spent.
Let us hope future years will produce similar events so that Blyth can demonstrate its many attractions; particularly to people who do not know it as well as those of us who are proud to live or work here.
SIMON PRINGLE
Centre Manager
Keel Row Shopping Centre



Reject this planning request

THE news that SITA are to extend the life of their Seghill landfill site is bad news for all those that live beside the site.
Landfill sites should not operate anywhere near local communities as the gases that migrate from them can be dangerous. Gases such as Hydrogen sulphide that gives off a smell of rotten eggs and ammonia with its very strong distinctive odour are only but two of a number of gases produced at landfill sites through the decomposition of organic matter.
The public should be warned of the dangers of living close to a landfill site and there should be at the least an inquiry into what effect breathing these gases has on the health of local communities.
The Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association (CPHVA) say that living near a landfill site can lead to many health problems such as birth defects and congenital anomalies, the gases can also cause nausea and headaches. But the effect on the young and old who live near a landfill can be more serious.
Finally the Government is taking serious note of the CPHVA study and wants to reduce reliance on the use of landfill.
Landfill sites are a proven health hazard and they should not be allowed to operate near communities.
Blyth Valley councillors take note and reject SITA UKs application for planning permission.
W BANKS
Seghill



Action needed on misuse of disabled parking bays

COUNTY councillor William Ashbridge does have a valid point of view on the misuse of disabled parking bays (Letters, July 14).
Be it in Bedlington as he states, or anywhere else, regardless they are only there specifically for the use by permit holding disabled persons, no one else.
It is rather disappointing though, when he was an eye witness to a blatant misuse of this privilege, he did nothing about it himself.
In his position as a county councillor he should have used the authority he has to deal in person and chastise the guilty party.
The only benefit disabled people have is to park as near as possible to the business they partake in - this privilege is there for that purpose and their convenience.
Yes, the majority of people in Bedlington as anywhere else with common sense fully support disabled people and recognise their duty to give assistance if needed.
On numerous occasions, too many unauthorised people are using bays meant for the disabled. I hope the authorities are taking notice.
G W McPHERSON
Northumberland Avenue
Bedlington



Branch says thanks for support

ON Saturday, July 9, the Morpeth and District Branch of the Alzheimer's Society held a coffee morning in the Town Hall and a street collection in Morpeth.
The total from both events amounted to £785.93.
I would like to extend my thanks to all volunteers, street collectors and the many people who supported us and gave donations.
The Alzheimer's Society is the leading UK care and research charity for people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. It also gives support to families and carers.
Anyone who would like to know more about the Society and its work is welcome to call at the office, Springwell House, Wellway, Morpeth (any weekday morning 9.30am-12.30pm) or ring Susan or Sandra on 01670 511159.
MARGARET NEILSON
Chairman