THE fury about flats in Darwen being let to asylum seekers while long standing tenants are moved out (LET, October 16) is understandable.

What aren't understandable are the comments by Twin Valley Homes chief executive Phil Richards.

He claims that the arrangements for asylum seekers were in place long before the demolition programme was agreed. Given that tenants were told they were being moved, because there is no longer a demand for small flats, why are the flats being demolished when there obviously is a demand, and that demand has been known about for some time?

The 'consultation' with tenants about the demolition that Mr Richards refers to consisted of just one meeting. We were later told that nobody would be moving into flats earmarked for demolition and that nobody under the age of 45 would be considered for some of the remaining flats (it must just be a misunderstanding that people in their twenties have been allowed to move in).

As far as I am concerned, the asylum seekers are a darned sight more welcome on Ellenshaw estate than anyone from Twin Valley Homes.

N LEWIN, Ellerbeck Road, Darwen.