IN four months, Hyndburn's new Tory council and its supporters have managed to deprive Great Harwood of much-needed jobs and regeneration.

Once it was revealed that the proposed Safeway store was to be downsized, it didn't take much to work out that the scheme would become financially unviable.

Why did the store have to be scaled down? Could it be obstacles were put in the way?

I did warn people to be on their guard against the Tories talking Safeway out. Well, I hope the people concerned are happy with their achievement.

What have our newly-elected local councillors done to try and save what former Great Harwood councillor George Slynn had already negotiated?

I read that the Co-op are ready to step in. Why? They already have a store in the town and the last thing we need is another big empty building.

It was competitive choice Great Harwood needed, not the final nail from the Tories.

I wonder how long it will be before we see an application for a development on the outskirts of the town which will benefit local landowners rather than the local economy.

Come back, George, you may still be able to salvage something from this Tory mess.

CHRIS REID, Lomax Street, Great Harwood.

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