I MUST congratulate Blackburn with Darwen's environmental services chairman Councillor Tony Humphrys (Letters, March 31), for at least finding out that, in my previous remarks it was the Environmental Protection Act I was referring to.

I am a little bit disappointed, however, that he thinks my information on street gullies refers to 11 years ago when I worked for the operations department. It may surprise him to learn that some of us live in the here and now.

It may come as a shock to him that dog excrement and detritus are rarely removed during the weekly cleanse. If he observes the cleaning process in action, he will see that the operative seldom has a brush or shovel and I am sure he is not expected to pick it up by hand.

I notice and admire the deft political way with which he carefully avoids my reference to back streets and presume that now he is conversant with the standards required, he will take the appropriate action.

May I tongue-in-cheek suggest that he steps out from the town hall and admires the garden area on Library Street, although I must admit my information is at least one week out of date.

L LAWES, Bold Street, Blackburn.

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