ON the subject of the closures of elderly persons homes and the statement made by the chief executive, may I say that in the 1999 census more than 34 per cent of Bury's population was aged 60 or above. This figure is increasing, not only in Bury but in the country as a whole, and that fact will not go away.

To upset and stress elderly people, as this council is doing with this policy, is to shorten their lives. Is that their way forward?

Chief executive Mr Mark Sanders has defended the closures, saying the council needs to "reconfigure" their services. But this is not improving the quality of life of older people, enabling them to live as independently as possible and avoid unnecessary periods in hospital.

We know that the requirement is for the elderly to live with relatives. But how can that happen when sons and daughters are at work?

How many attempts have been made in recent years to reconfigure or restructure social services in Bury? We must have had four or five and each time good officers have been lost.

This homes closures programme is a sham. Some people have been in office for far too long.

VICTOR HAGAN,

information officer,

Liberal Democrats,

East Ward.