English deserve a say in future of the UK

May 12 2007 By The Journal

There appears to be an assumption, certainly on the part of Alex Salmond, that the break-up of the United Kingdom can be decided by a referendum in Scotland alone.

This affects the whole of the United Kingdom, and as an Englishman I want my say in it.

PHILIP WARREN, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne

Striving to provide a work-life balance

I would like to respond to the article concerning Jo Wilson ("Bosses won't let me work", The Journal, May 10) and her earlier letter.

Whilst I fully appreciate Jo's concerns about not being able to work from home, I would like to highlight that the Work Wise campaign is not a "Government-backed initiative". It is driven by a not-for-profit organisation, Work Wise UK and is supported by private companies such as BT, North- East Chamber of Commerce, CBI, EEF as well as the TUC and others.

These organisations are committed to encouraging employers to implement smarter working practices so more people can benefit from a range of flexible working practices including home working, remote working and mobile working.

Our partners are supporting the campaign because they firmly believe that we need to move away from the 9 to 5 culture to provide more opportunities for employees who want to find a work-life balance.

Employers looking to implement flexible working arrangements such as home working also need "hands-on" advice and support on how to go about putting these practices into place. Work Wise UK, provides this help and support through a team of advisers, online guides and through mentoring schemes.

I hope this letter goes some way in clarifying what the Work Wise campaign is setting out to achieve and I wish Jo well in her bid to find a satisfactory working solution. For further information about Work Wise visit www.workwiseuk.org

SIMON ROBERSON, Chairman, Work Wise North- East, Newcastle upon Tyne

All crime taken seriously by police

In response to the letter in Thursday's Journal under the headline `Road's residents under siege from vandals', I would like to present the police perspective.

During the early hours of Friday, May 4 residents in Eastfield Road, Benton, reported criminal damage to a number of their vehicles. My officers attended and spoke with many of the residents who subsequently provided valuable evidence in addition to the forensic evidence gathered at the scenes.

As a result of diligent enquiries I can confirm that three men were arrested in Backworth yesterday morning (Friday, May 11) on suspicion of criminal damage. They are assisting us with our enquiries.

North Tyneside Police attend all reports of crime except cases where the person reporting does not wish us to.

All crime, including criminal damage, is taken seriously and I ask that regardless of whether a crime is perceived as `petty' or not it is reported to us so we can investigate it. Currently Northumbria Police are specifically targeting criminal damage offenders under the `Together we can combat crime' campaign.

This is a prime example where the public, in this case residents of Eastfield Road, have helped us with valuable information.

Northumbria Police do not support vigilante behaviour but we do support working closely with the public to resolve problems of crime and disorder in their neighbourhoods.

Neighbourhood Policing Teams have been established for that very reason and together with Community Support Officers and Neighbourhood Watch are making a significant impact through Total Policing on community problems.

To put this incident into perspective, Eastfield Road has suffered 10 crimes in the past year. We agree with the sentiments of the writer that every crime is one too many. However, crime in North Tyneside fell by 7% in the last 12 months and crimes of criminal damage by 11%.

Every police officer and member of police staff in North Tyneside is committed to reducing crime and bringing offenders to justice.

We welcome public support in achieving this. I thank the public in North Tyneside for their continued assistance in doing so.

Chief Superintendent Steve Storey,

Area Commander, North Tyneside

Couple brave to stand firm against turbines

I felt I must commend Mr and Mrs Dakin for their bravery in standing firm in the path of yet another governmental steamroller, this time in the shape of wind turbines ("Couple say no to £6m", The Journal, May 8).

Living in North Northumberland, I have always conjectured that the scenery there is so breathtaking that England must have purloined it from Scotland at some time in past historical conflicts.

To consider such beauty and history being desecrated by the monstrous turbines proposed for that locality is unthinkable, and I feel that the detriment to the tourist trade and local populace far outweighs any theoretical benefit to the community.

JOHN RAE, Beal, Northumberland

£6m could help couple find new unspoilt spot

In your May 8 article on Frank and Clare Dakin's refusal to sell land for a wind farm, they say that the reason they moved to Northumberland was for the "unspoilt and special" landscape. Well, as they may be surrounded by neighbouring turbines, they could take the £6m and live in unspoilt landscape anywhere in the world.

DAVID BENDELOW, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland

Projects protected from EC changes

The claim in The Journal on Thursday, May 10 that "the poorest will be hard hit as Europe stops funds" is factually incorrect.

Government Office North-East has specifically assured me that no payments to projects will be affected by the European Commission's move and that all projects will continue to receive funds via Government Office as normal. It is right that the Commission expects a monitoring system of the highest standard, and right that the Government should shoulder the responsibility, and the bill, where this has not been achieved.

FIONA HALL MEP, Durham

Where are ITV's yards?

In televised football matches, why in free kicks do ITV give the distance to goal in metres?

GORDON TOMLINSON, Seaham, County Durham