SO the new leader of Hyndburn Council, Coun Ian Ormerod, in power now for seven weeks, has decided that the reason why young people are not putting themselves forward to be councillors is because of the council's suit or "smart casual" dress code.

I would have thought that the suggestion that our young people do not know how to dress appropriately is an insult to their intelligence.

Young adults, I am sure, have bigger fish to fry than becoming councillors, such as working to develop a career or raising a family.

Yet Coun Ormerod is apparently putting forward an amendment to allow both elected members and officers to wear jeans and trainers at council meetings and civic receptions.

Hyndburn Council is a member of numerous partnerships in East Lancashire and nationwide and councillors and officers serve as ambassadors for the council at the meetings of these organisations, discussing anything from health and education to regeneration and crime and disorder.

Can anyone imagine what the reaction would be if we attended these meetings in jeans and trainers?

Standards should be maintained, if not improved, and not abandoned.

Has Coun Ormerod got it right or wrong? I would be very interested to hear readers' views, particularly of young adults of Hyndburn and surrounding boroughs.

Meanwhile on June 29, the Queen's Lancashire Regiment will be awarded the Freedom of the Borough which will be followed by a procession through Accrington town centre. I sincerely hope that Coun Ormerod and his Labour colleagues do not turn up in jeans and trainers.

Mmm, now what did I do with my clogs and cloth cap?

COUN PETER CLARKE, Ash Lane, Great Harwood.