STUART Finch is wrong to suggest people in the Ribble Valley or Blackburn with Darwen should not support an elected regional assembly. Yes, is the way to vote in the forthcoming referendum.

A yes vote won't, as he says result in bureaucratic madness -- that's what we've got now!

Research shows that people living in two-tier systems of local government -- county council and district council -- are unsure who is accountable for delivering their services. It's more expensive running two councils rather than one unitary council.

It's currently bureaucrats or quangocrats, often from London, who make decisions for our region, which can often be 'mad.' These people are unelected, unaccountable and often hundreds of miles from where their decision is going to have an impact.

Education has dramatically improved in Blackburn with Darwen since it became a unitary authority. I'm only glad we pulled away from Lancashire County Council.

While nobody would argue everything Blackburn with Darwen Council does is perfect, it is exceptionally good compared to most other councils in the country.

I realise there is lots of misinformation from certain parts of the county, but Ribble Valley folk might actually want the improvements and efficiencies that having a unitary council has brought Blackburn with Darwen.

As for Mr Finch's statement that Darweners feel threatened by enlargement, well this one isn't! It will be great to be part of an area that will bring economies of scale -- there are optimum population sizes for very efficient councils -- allow use of services across a beautiful area of Lancashire and it will mean those in the Ribble Valley, who often use Blackburn and Darwen's services, will be able to contribute towards them!

SONIA MILEWSKI, Percival Street, Darwen.