WITH reference to John Vickers' letter (Journal Mailbox, February 17), regarding my record as newly elected councillor for the ward of Hindley Green/Westleigh.

Mr Vickers accuses me of a lack of commitment to the area I am proud to represent and have lived in for 40 years, by listing an array of complaints which have been on the agenda this past year.

I am of course flattened that he seems to think that I personally have an input which allows me to intervene in to the decisions of an American multi-national company (PPG) and a national brewery, but unfortunately I have to tell him he is overestimating my powers somewhat.

As for his complaints about the bowling green (secured for the future by a partnership between the bowling green users and the local ward councillors) and the nursery (a million pound scheme by the name of Sure Start will soon be unveiled to be set up in Hindley/Hindley Green which will allow local parents to drive this venture for the benefit of themselves and their children), I have to tell him that we have been busy working to maintain and replace these services.

The truth is, however, that these issues are a smokescreen to Mr Vickers' real complaint about the work of myself and fellow councillors' support for a relief road to alleviate the heavy goods traffic from Swan Lane and the surrounding areas. His opposition to this development, which will provide that relief, is of course perfectly valid, as he is I know, personally affected by the road and the housing estate.

Indeed, I would always fight for Mr Vickers' democratic right to voice his opinion on any of these matters and allow the people of Hindley Green and Westleigh to decide whether the policies of himself and his close friend, Mr Chris Maile, are what they want from the representative in this ward.

Unfortunately, I, as a representative of the whole of Hindley Green and Westleigh, not just a single issue pressure group, have to take in to account what is best for everyone, and in this case my colleagues and I concluded this relief road, funded by the housing estate, is the solution to a long standing problem that has been with us in this ward for many years.

Mr Vickers and Mr Maile, on the other hand, are it seems quick to criticise politicians such as myself and my colleagues, who seek to do the best for the whole of their wards and borough in general, while at the same time opposing any measure that will improve the economic fortunes of Leigh and its suburbs - Xanadu being a prime example.

As Mr Vickers quite rightly says, I am relatively inexperienced in politics, yet I have quickly learned you cannot please all of the people all of the time. What I have done, and will continue to do, is to try and represent the interests of ALL the people of my ward the best I can, even though that may sometimes mean making tough decisions which will not satisfy everyone.

Cllr PETER TURNER

Hindley Green ward

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.