I HAVE attended various Prestwich Area Board meetings in recent years and am surprised how often local residents seem to know more than our councillors, although I think that sometimes councillors prefer to keep the public in the dark.

At a recent meeting one lady stated her concerns about a possible five-storey development at the Longfield Centre. Councillors claimed to be unaware of any plan and gave her short shrift.

You can understand my shock, therefore, when I read that the Longfield Centre pharmacy is to be temporarily relocated in order to allow for the start of just such a five-storey development.

Some time ago one party-political poodle suggested there was no point in ordinary voters like me complaining about matters after the event, or when it was a foregone conclusion. So I will now ask:

Is this proposal for the Longfield Precinct another "foregone conclusion"?

It seems to me that Richardson's grandiose idea for a leisure centre, complete with swimming pool, was just another red herring to soften up any potential local opposition. In my view, we have already seen two examples of local people being hoodwinked by unscrupulous developers with the complicity of an inept council eager to encourage big business to move into the area.

Meanwhile the much-awaited Longfield Centre car park re-vamp has been completed, well nearly. I understand there are a few less parking places than before but not to worry, it will be safer. I presume the high mast lighting on the car park is positioned so high above the ground so that it is out of reach of vandals (the on-off switch must be also out of reach because the lights are left on all day and night).

I suppose it is too much to expect our councillors to let us know what is in the offing with regards to this five-storey development. We will probably find out when it's too late to stop it. Bury Council are letting developers get away with environmental murder, but they will no doubt tell us that it is all being done for the greater good.

CLIFF MEREDITH