COULD I congratulate you on your editorial (LET, September 30) regarding independent Hyndburn councillor, Adrian Shurmer. Never have I read an editorial in any newspaper that put the true facts about any one person or issue, a truly marvellous piece of journalism.

When elected members of any council think they can throw tantrums and stamp their feet if they don't get their own way, they should not be in local politics.

This is quite clearly the case as far as Coun Shurmer is concerned. He reminds me of a lad who used to play cricket with us when we were young. If he could not bat all the time he would take his bat home.

Just a word on Chris Reid's letter (LET, September 30) where he blames the Tories for the withdrawal of the Safeways development from Great Harwood.

Not one Tory said a word about this development as to do so before the issue came before the development committee would compromise their positions.

This is exactly what former council leader and chairman of that committee, George Slynn did, and had he still been on the council would have found it very difficult having any say in the matter when it did come before that committee.

It has to be remembered that Coun Shurmer and his friends are not Tory supporters, so please Chris, don't tar us with the same brush.

JOHN FARRER, Mallard Place, Oswaldtwistle.

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