AFTER reading Gerry Van Hecke's letter (Dec 4) I am tempted to conclude that, as local councillors, "we are damned if we do and we are damned if we don't".

When we turn down development proposals because we do not consider them to be appropriate or cost-effective, as we have at Longfield, we are branded as stick-in-the-muds standing in the way of progress. And when we approve them, as we have at Grimshaw's, we are accused of being in the pockets of big business!

Neither is true, nor is Gerry Van Hecke's assertion that we do not listen to the poeple we represent.

Bury Council have put a lot of effort into ways of making it clear that we welcome questions and comments at all committee meetings, speeches of support or objection at planning committee meetings and extensive public debate through our area board meetings. We are always prepared to listen and to consider changing our proposals as a result of what we have heard, but ultimately we have to make decisions which, on balance, we believe to be in the interests of the community.

COUNCILLOR DEREK BODEN,

deputy leader Bury MBC.