IN your article headlined "Council service awards blasted" (LET, October 3), Miranda Carruthers-Watt, the council officer responsible for delivering this scheme, says that Blackburn with Darwen Council has already been judged as an excellent one, and so it really needs not ask the public -- the very people who pay its and her wages -- its opinion. Why not?

For although it was indeed judged Council of the Year, it certainly was not on any public vote.

Members of the council's sewer cleansing team are said to be "vying for this self-appraising award. However, if the drains, etc on our Ashworth Street estate are anything to go by, then like the drains they should all be blocked.

Council leader Sir Bill Taylor and his dictatorial executive can, I am certain, find something better to waste our hard-earned council tax on.

Perhaps they could issue us all with drain-cleaning kits and we could do the job ourselves. After all, Twin Valley Homes have already sent letters to their tenants, asking them to sweep the pavements etc.

Although they too have employees supposed to do the job, they never do.

MR P NEWTON, Ashworth Close, Blackburn.