REGARDING the comments of Mr Frank Fordham (Letters, May 24) about your story on Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe's sale of shop premises to a drinks retail firm, I understand some of the points he raised, notably that supply and demand is the 'be-all-and-end-all' of this issue.

I'd remind Mr Fordham that people have a right to know who they are electing and this issue is in the public interest and, therefore, open to scrutiny, especially when it involves the leader of the council. After all, if it wasn't in the public interest, why did newspapers carry the story or print his letter?

Answering Mr Fordham's second point, this shop is in a run-down area, with lots of problems, which we are working very hard to turn around and which Coun Britcliffe is well aware of.

How do you think we all feel when we -- and I live there -- see good work thrown away on another anti-social magnet, another alcohol outlet on 'liquor mile?'

The last licence rejection by the magistrates was because of the potential for anti-social behaviour and oversaturation of outlets. The applicant was told to move such a business opportunity a considerable distance away and 200 yards was not what the magistrates had in mind.

COUN GRAHAM JONES, Peel Ward, Accrington.