I AM extremely concerned that representatives of Bury's Labour council have agreed to 78 houses being built on the former Morada factory in Hope Street, Ramsbottom.

I am particularly concerned that one Labour member of the planning committee should feel the site, which has been in industrial use and providing jobs for the people of Ramsbottom since the 19th century, has outgrown its usefulness.

Surely, the members of the council are aware that Ramsbottom, over the past 10-15 years, has experienced probably the largest house building programme and subsequent increase in its population, in the whole of the metropolitan borough without any significant increase in its services. Are they not aware of their own Government's commitment to reduce car dependency? I would have thought that one way of achieving that goal was to provide localised employment.

I can understand anyone wanting to live in Ramsbottom. But the thought of 160 more cars accessing Bolton Road West and the already busy junction of Nuttall/Dundee Lane, on our badly maintained roads, to say nothing of the additional pressures for places in local schools and the derth of leisure facilities, is something which I feel is of grave concern.

Unfortunately the people who take these decisions don't have to live with the consequences.

COUN. D. GUNTHER,

Ramsbottom.