Dear Sir,
The lady writing in last weeks Newton News about lack of lighting on Burnhill Way is a topical subject. As the former Vice Chair of Great Aycliffe Residents Association working alongside Syd Howarth it fell to me to voice public opinion about Durham County Council removing lighting to save money.
Syd and I travelled to Durham and I read out a statement, penned by myself and Syd, which put forward arguments about the proposed lack of lighting which in our view and that of many residents of Newton Aycliffe, the move would result in road accidents, anti-social behaviour and would promote a sense of nervousness amongst people walking around at night. Of course, the Labour controlled council replied with an offhand statement which left us in no doubt that saving money was a higher priority.
As has been reported in the media in previous days, women are nervous about walking after dark and there are many dark areas of our town. Hooligans feel brave enough to throw stones at vehicles knowing they can melt away into the darkness. This at a time when we have a female home secretary and a female chief constable. Throughout the last few years Durham Councillors have complained bitterly about the shortage of funding from Whitehall whilst planning projects on which to spend money such as moving the Council headquarters from Aykley Heads to the centre of Durham adding to an already congested city, building a new bus station, Lumiere, and oh yes siting a custody suite at Spennymoor costing £21million (paid for from reserves). Many of these things may be deemed as necessary but when asking for an increase in rates how can we have millions in reserve then ask the poor taxpayer for more?
When we talk about double taxation this is a prime example of how the good people of Newton Aycliffe are forced to pay for lighting when we already pay County Council rates. Of course, our County Councillors point out that they do distribute money into our town but ask yourself whose money is it really. I have no real objection to raising rates as long as the money is allocated wisely.
The speech I made to County Council will be on record as it was published in the Newton News at the time, but the shocking thing was that a member of the public had to bring up this issue whilst elected Labour councillors remained silent.
Ken Robson
