YOUR report on the proposed service station on the M65 near the Blackburn-Darwen border (LET, November 20) is good news for Earcroft, Darwen and the whole borough, but I must take issue with the comments of Peter Prendergast, of the planning department and, in particular, Darwen Councillor David Fenton.

Over the last two years, I and Councillors Simon Danczuk and Mary Leaver have worked with officers and, more importantly, the local community as this scheme has developed.

The majority of people in the area required assurances that it would not result now or in the future with access from the A666. It has never been the case, as Mr Prendergast suggests, that residents 'believed' that is what would happen.

The community still broadly supports the project subject to proper safeguards and consultation. But, in respect of Coun Fenton, where has he been since May?

I don't recall him having any contribution on this issue, unlike myself and Couns Danczuk and Leaver in the past two years, or him having any dialogue with the community on this issue.

Yet, he feels able to describe the area as 'shabby.'

Many in the community find such a remark offensive.

MICHAEL BARRETT (vice-chairman, Earcroft Labour Party), Anchor Avenue, Darwen.