THE news that there is to be a referendum on the proposed supermarket development at Great Harwood (LET, October 7) came as a complete surprise to the Labour members of Hyndburn Council's development services committee, as it did to the Tory members, who apparently knew nothing about council leader Peter Britcliffe's idea to call a referendum. Don't get me wrong - there is a proper place for local referendums. However, the referendum at Great Harwood is not binding, as the council's policy and resources committee has the final say on whether the council land is sold to the developers.

As planning permission has already been granted, it is reasonable to ask just what is the point of holding the referendum.

At the end of the day, power over this matter still rests with the committee, not with the people. It looks to me that this referendum is a £4,000 publicity stunt to prop up Peter Britcliffe's crumbling administration.

If Hyndburn's Tories now believe that planning decisions should be decided by referendum, I challenge them to allow the people of Huncoat to have their say on the proposed central Huncoat development, now that the precedent has been set in Great Harwood.

Why not call a 'proper' referendum where the decision is binding, one way or the other and let the people really decide?

COUN DAVE PARKINS, Bolton Avenue, Huncoat.

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