THE behind-the-scenes attempts to prevent Brian Foster continuing as chairman of the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale NHS Trust, are becoming farcical.

In order to redress the balance, whereby traditionally, chairman and chairwoman have usually been chosen for their loyalty to the government in power, the incoming government vowed to promote Labour party stalwarts.

Understandable as this may be, surely a proven competent candidate is preferable to a local politician who may have a record of failure in local government and a reputation for grabbing any opportunity for self promotion - particularly where "easy money" goes with the appointment?

For all my criticism of and regular confrontations with Brian Foster, he has at least tried to inject some semblance of openness and transparency in to this constantly troubled trust.

To replace him with someone who is not even fit to be a board member, let alone to be chairman, would be outrageous.

MR H HORNE, Brunshaw Road, Burnley.

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