CONSERVATIVE Councillor Dave Pearson (Letters, March 18), claims that Blackburn with Darwen's council tax is 'the fifth highest' out of the 46 unitary authorities.

Yet he could also point out, but chooses not to, that the average bill paid by residents of the borough is, in fact, one of the lowest in the country.

Coun Pearson goes on to criticise the Labour group's budget, yet does not propose any alternative. Indeed, at the budget meeting the opposition parties did not produce any budget plans at all!

Coun Pearson wants more money spent on improving the roads, which is fine. However, he doesn't specify how much more, nor which services would be cut to pay for this increase.

He states that the Labour Party "have been running this borough for far too long and have become arrogant and complacent." If this was the case, then surely, the council would not have won the Council of the Year award.

The council's Labour group has tried very hard indeed to be proactive, listening and inclusive.

Is Coun Pearson seriously suggesting that the council would have won Council of the Year if the Conservative group had been in charge?

COUN DAVE SMITH (Sunnyhurst Ward), Secretary, Blackburn with Darwen Labour Group.