ON Thursday, July 19, the residents of Windle Parish have two very important decisions to make.

The first one is whether to vote in the Windle Parish by-election or not to bother. I hope they will take the time and the trouble to make their views known by going to vote.

The second is whether to vote for the candidate who lives in the Parish and pays the Parish precept or for someone who does not live in the Parish and therefore does not pay the Parish precept.

Incredibly five of the present eight councillors already live outside the Parish boundary. One doesn't even live in St Helens, let alone Windle.

Geoff Almond (Windle Ward Councillor), Windle, St Helens.