SOME of us cannot share the enthusiasm expressed in your Comment (LET, April 19), concerning the transfer of the St George's surgery from the Preston New Road area of Blackburn to Haslingden Road.

OK for patients who have cars, but not so good for those without their own transport. It brings back memories of the City Challenge project 12 years ago -- a scheme that transferred resources out of this same area and contributed to the demise and demolition of 151 houses currently taking place in streets off Preston New Road.

Neither can we agree with the statement "Private Finance Initiative (PFI) centre means winners all round." There is a catalogue of complaints concerning the practice of financing public projects which is placing taxpayers in hock to private companies, whose first and legal allegiance is to boards of directors and shareholders, rather than the taxpaying public.

The Cumberland Royal Infirmary, hailed as a flagship for PFI, has been slammed by the Commission for Health Improvement, for poor standards of cleanliness, bad food, and poor treatment times.

An Audit Commission report criticised privatised schools where the PFI has led to inadequate classroom facilities, poor heating and lighting and bad use of precious funds.

The most recent revelation concerns another of the Government's highly publicised flagship PFI disasters at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, which has been built too small and distressed mothers are complaining of having to give birth in open wards with only a curtain providing privacy.

It has often been said the difference between past Labour governments and New Labour is, whereas Labour governments raised money through progressive taxation to pay for essential services, New Labour mimics Tory policies, borrows from the private sector and doesn't give a damn about how much is repaid or who pays for it!

Far from everyone being a winner. There is only one 'winner' and it certainly isn't the taxpayer.

COUN DON RISHTON, Wensley Fold Ward, Blackburn with Darwen Council.