AS the Mr Blobby fiasco bounces about between pantomime farce and a major local government scandal, it is now time that Lancaster City Council's shocking record of appalling and massively costly blunders is placed under official public scrutiny.

There should be a full and thorough independent audit if not a full scale top-level enquiry.

The endless saga of Mr Blobby is by no means an isolated disaster, to be paid for by the ratepayers and then conveniently brushed under the red carpet at the town hall.

This abysmal council has for years promoted a series of spectacular failures and white elephants making it a laughing stock. The Mr Blobby farce has finally stripped the mask away to reveal a truly disgraceful and disturbing pattern of dodgy and reckless speculation in questionable commercial enterprises almost unrivalled in this country.

Africar, Ameco, the Bubbles complex, the mysterious departure of the former Town Clerk, the blight on business following the re-location of the Poulton Square Market and the rush to constant and obsessive litigation - these are just a few examples of council bungling, ineptitude and crass stupidity. Nothing less than a full-scale investigation - with heads rolling - will do if any kind of confidence is to restored.

Mr G Yates,

Sea Haven Antiques,

Morecambe.

There's no chance - they've got skin like rhinos and it appears no conscience or dignity. But give 'em enough rope - Ed

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