I RECEIVED my copy of 'The Shuttle' and was reaching for my pen, having never read such a lot of self-congratulatory twaddle in my life.

Then your newspaper arrived and most of what I was going to say was said either by Colin Rigby or yourselves.

It is good to see the party for which I vote at long last launching real criticism at this most inept of councils.

As you say, your paper does act as a critic from time to time, but your Comment was nearly as self-satisfied as 'The Shuttle.'

It is your readers whose letters have the most to say about the inadequacies of the town hall -- and you of course are the arbiter of which of those letters are published.

I would like to add to the censure by drawing readers attention to the jargon-ridden 'Performance Agreement' (who did they agree with?)

Most of the 'projects' are not within their power to carry out -- how are they going to "reduce burglary, vehicle crime, and drug misuse?" Are they a police force?

And if they really believe that creating a call centre will make it easier for us, then they have not made many calls to such places! One is likely to learn more about Eine Kleine Nachtmusik than the answer to one's problems.

KEITH REYNOLDS, Wyre Crescent, Darwen.