I AM bemused by Jonathan Grosskopf's recent letter. He pledges the Conservatives to spend very large sums of extra money. This conflicts directly with Councillor Roy Walker who says the Tories will cut spending in Bury, losing jobs and services, though he has refused to say which jobs and services.

At national level, Michael Howard has also promised to cut public spending. Indeed, the Tories have said they will freeze Home Office spending which does mean fewer police.

I know he may just be speaking out of ignorance, rather than malice, but I can tell Mr Grosskopf that Bury MBC does support all its schools and teachers. We have expanded pre-school provision beyond anything the Tories wanted. We have introduced several CCTV schemes and a programme of improved street lighting. We are also providing a better range of services for elderly people. Finally, I must give the lie to the suggestion that Fairfield Hospital is somehow under threat of closure. Nothing could be further from the truth.

As for better bus services, I ask Mr Grosskopf who deregulated public transport and privatised the services? I know it wasn't Labour.

COUNCILLOR JOAN GRIMSHAW