RARELY have I seen such stunning inaccuracy as that of Leslie Burrows, (Letters, September 14).

Firstly, it is not the Blackburn with Darwen Labour Council imposing a "special cabinet" similar to that of the government at Westminster. All councils, irrespective of political control, have to change their structures because of a ruling by central government.

Will Mr Burrows be criticising Tory authorities when they too will be changing to a "cabinet-style" system?

Secondly, councillors' allowances will not be rising (except for inflation). Allowances for Blackburn with Darwen Council were set by an independent commission in 1997. These average £6,032 per councillor before tax - in line with other similar unitary authorities.

If councillors are so highly paid, why isn't there a stampede of local folk clamouring to get rich quick by becoming councillors? As far as I know, there are no plans to increase allowances if the cabinet system is implemented.

Mr Burrows states that "Blackburn has one of the highest council tax rates in the country". Not so. Indeed, Blackburn with Darwen Council has the third lowest average bills in Lancashire and does not have particularly high or low bills when compared with other unitary authorities.

Finally, Mr Burrows complains about the number of empty shops and market stalls. I would suggest that the number of empty properties is no greater than other comparable towns and far less than in some other areas I have visited.

I do wish people would get their facts right before writing such irresponsible letters as Mr Burrows. A simple phone call to their local councillor would help people to establish these facts!

COUNCILLOR DAVE SMITH (Sunnyhurst Ward), Avondale Road, Darwen.

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