Dear Sir,
My jaw dropped when I saw workmen directly outside my house over Christmas erecting new street lights for the Village Green.  My jaw dropped even further when I realised that the lights are, what can only be described as suitable for the Industrial Estate, and not for Aycliffe’s much revered Village Green.
Please tell me I am dreaming and when I wake up I will see traditional street lighting columns fit for a beautiful and most charming English Village Green.
To add to the ugly sight that bestows me each time I look out of my windows, not only do we have to suffer these monstrosities of urban ugliness, but there are additional ones too!!! Why??
Aycliffe Village is not an Industrial Estate.  It is not Blackpool illuminations.  It is our Village Green and we are proud to flaunt it to people from all over the world.
Without any prior consultation with the people who live in Aycliffe Village, the Council have taken our money and just bulldozed ahead to do what “they think fit”.  It is a disgrace, and I know many of my fellow Villagers are outraged at the lack of planning and design when it comes to “conserving” our Green.
Naturally, I am aware that we have to move forward when it comes to eco lighting but I am 100% certain that a village in, say the heart of England, would not allow their Council to erect such eyesores – they would do what they do in France and knock them down!
PS: I would welcome any communication from the Council and invite them to put their case forward to the village as to why our money was spent on this street lighting and why we were not consulted beforehand.
Lesley Hislop
The Green
Aycliffe Village