Real hope of boomtime

May 10 2009 Sunday Sun

THE proposed closure of the steelworks in Teesside will cause intense pain in the short-term. It may, however, lead to economic rebirth in the longer term.

It has been conclusively proved that the presence of steelworks in a region leads to dramatically higher levels of cancer and respiratory diseases such as asthma than the national average. 

The steel industry do, of course, deny this, but it’s rather like the tobacco companies in the 1960s and 1970s telling us that there was no link between smoking and cancer. 

The presence of a steel plant in a region gives it a very negative image. These two facts discourage new industries and enterprises from establishing themselves in that region. 

But experience worldwide has shown that once a steel plant goes from a region then that region usually flourishes. 

The best and most recent example of this is the City of Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia.  BHP Billiton shut its steelworks there in 1999 and 10 years later the city has been transformed with a booming economy based on tourism and new business enterprise and has a burgeoning population.  It has gone from being what used to be nick-named "The Hell Hole of NSW" to the most exciting and pleasant provincial City in Australia. 

So why can’t the same thing happen to Teesside?

Dr MARK LEE, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough

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Airshow photos wanted

I AM currently researching the history of British airshows in order to produce a book marking the 100th anniversary of the first British event in 1909.

I was wondering if any of your readers had recollections they may wish to share and photographs filed away that evoke memories of past airshows? Attending airshows is just as popular today as it was during the 1920s and 30s and countless young (and young at heart) spectators remain fascinated by the aerial activity each summer.

There must be thousands of unpublished photographs out there just waiting to be shared. Memories and photographs can be sent directly to myself at 45 Hassocks Close, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 2GH, or emailed to steve.bridgewater@ gmail.com

All photographs will be copied and returned

STEPHEN BRIDGEWATER, Nottingham

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Cop was just doing his job

REGARDING your story about John Dougal (May 3), in my opinion he is not a killer, he was a decent policeman who was doing his job pursuing someone’s stolen car.

As far as I am aware the training police receive says they do not put on lights or sirens until they are near to the stolen vehicle, which John was doing.

Is there any other police officer who drives at 30mph while trying to recover a stolen car, where the driver is obviously doing a lot more than 30mph? I don’t think so.

The police training school is very strict in their training, and John was an experienced driver, but the authority stood back and allowed him to be punished for doing his job, for this was a tragic accident.

They allowed him to be portrayed as an evil person, which he is not.

RB, Wallsend, North Tyneside

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Expenses will cost PM dear

IN an attempt to prevent his and Labour’s popularity sinking as far as it could ever possibly sink, Gordon Brown has told us he is determined to do something about the exorbitant expense claims of some of his fellow Labour MPs.

He has stopped the second home allowance for those who already have two homes, one paid for from their MP’s salary – paid for by us taxpayers – and the other one a grace and favour home, again, provided for by us taxpayers.

Call me cynical, but why did he not do this years ago? Is he only doing this now because they have been found out?

JOAN McTIGUE, Independent councillor, Middlesbrough.