IHAVE followed with interest the correspondence regarding the standard of gritting in Blackburn and Darwen, and one thing is clear, despite the result of your poll (LET, February 6) there are still an awful lot of people dissatisfied with the service.

Its deterioration is symptomatic of the general run-down in services as a whole: the condition of the roads and pavements in some areas is deplorable and street cleaning leaves a lot of be desired.

During the council budget debate last year, I said people should be offered choice on the amount of tax and level of service they wanted.

In the debate on gritting, instigated by the Liberal Democrats, I again asked for people to be consulted on the standard of service and the system. This was voted against by every Labour councillor, including the one who bought grit for streets in his area.

As usual, when Labour politicians are given the opportunity to admit shortcomings and redeem the situation, they spurn it. Not only that, those who have the temerity to voice the concerns of the people, they represent are accused of being 'destructive.'

Local services mirror the national trend: reduction in quality, red tape and workers drowning in a sea of paperwork, too many chiefs and not enough Indians.

Improved services do not necessarily mean increases in taxes.

The aim should be to establish a viable and flexible management structure --every manager behind a desk means two or three less workers doing the essential work. There should be a structured system to achieve maximum service with minimum effort; training that would lead to a multi-skilled workforce. Rewards should only be given for results.

None of these things need cost any money or increases in Council Tax. It will mean councillors and officers starting to think of the council as Blackburn with Darwen Co Ltd., and behaving accordingly.

It will also mean the Executive Board acting as a board and doing what they are paid to do and that is to ensure that the quality services taxpayers are entitled to expect are delivered.

COUNCILLOR KEVIN CONNOR (Liberal Democrat, Marsh House Ward), Elswick Street, Darwen.