WHY are such people as Tom Finney and Nick Park - let alone the University of Central Lancashire - being 'honoured' with the Freedom of the Borough?

Nick Park's production company isn't based in Preston, but in Bristol.

The only contribution Tom Finney ever made to this town was in helping to build a monstrosity of a football stadium, with nightmare parking problems, and bleeding public services white every time a match is played at it.

As for the UCLa, the students of the university already have the freedom of the borough.

The only people who consider the place an 'academic centre of excellence' are those who run, manage and represent it. The links between Preston and the university are already close enough, as the university once began its life as a local technical college, the Harris College.

Looking at the calibre of people 'honoured' by the university in the last decade alone, it might just be that the people of Preston don't actually want to be associated with the place.

Regardless of any opinion that a 'spokesman' from Preston council has on this matter, the choice of candidate for such an 'honour' could hardly be described as an asset to the town now, or in the future.

Eileen Timoroksa

Deepdale

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