ONCE again (LET, March 18), the accusation of racism is wielded like a weapon on the floor of the council chamber in Burnley.

If logic is applied to Councillor Mozaquir Ali's argument that to press the council to spend public money improving one's own area at the expense of another is racist, then he must acknowledge that the people of Stoneyholme and Daneshouse and their representatives, by doing just that, are not only practising racism, they are doing jolly well out of it, too.

When one buys a property, whether as owner/occupier or as landlord, one also accepts the responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance, too. Why doesn't the council press the property owners to face up to their obligation and play their part in trying to reverse the downward spiral in which this town is trapped?

There are not enough funds available to maintain the council's housing stock, without the added burden of shouldering other people's costs as well.

So, come on, Burnley Council, put your foot down and stop throwing our money at problems that should be addressed by the people who own the properties.

RESIDENT of Allen Street, Burnley (full name and address received).

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