YOUR article "Outlook is still no showers" (LET, February 17) outlined the plight of Mr and Mrs Aspden, of Great Harwood, and their attempts to get a grant for a shower. But they are by no means on their own.

There are elderly and disabled people who have been waiting more than four years for a shower conversion.

This is hardly surprising when the Labour government cut grants to Hyndburn for disabled adaptations for the current year by £44,000 from £272,000 the year before.

This service is funded in conjunction with the council on a 60 per cent/40 per cent basis.

So the actual cut from central government was £26,400, with Hyndburn Council cutting its contribution by £17,600. However, it is up to the local council to provide more money for these very necessary adaptations.

It is rather indicative that the Labour-controlled council never said a word about the cuts and has made no attempt to challenge the government.

It appears that since the election of a Labour government, Labour councillors have lost the will to fight for a better deal in Hyndburn.

Maybe they know that their efforts would be fruitless.

JOHN D FARRER, Mallard Place, Oswaldtwistle.

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