IN your last report on the bypass debate, you quote Hilton Dawson MP as saying: "Anyone who disrupts our bid will have something to answer for..."

Does he accept that the bid for the Western Bypass has already been disrupted and rejected by two planning inspectors, one at the Lancashire County Council's structure plan in 1995 and now at the District Local Plan Inquiry?

The whole planning system depends on these plans, local consultation has been part of the process and every planning application has to be looked at in the light of the policies agreed.

Without them there would be little any objector could do against any development in the area. Do our MPs want to ride roughshod over the whole planning system?

If the County Council had agreed on the Northern Route in September 1998, as proposed by the county officers, the city council would have included it in the District Local Plan, the County Council would have included it in the Lancashire Transport Plan and the link would now be a strong contender for Government funding.

Who stopped this happening?

The two Labour MPs and the Labour County Councillors.

Pat Quinton

Leader Lib Dems