IT was Dr Samuel Johnson who said that getting married for a second time was "a triumph of hope over experience."

The same could be said of your article (LET, September 26), concerning the revamp of Blackburn town centre - if EU monies become available.

This is particularly true since, on the front page of the same edition, you print the news that another much-vaunted scheme at Whitebirk has proved to be a non-starter.

In the 11 years I have lived here, I have lost count of the number of 'schemes,' usually accompanied by artists' impressions, I have seen, only for hopes to be dashed in the final analysis.

Perhaps it is the usual prerequisite that central government or European money would fund these developments that is the problem.

Blackburn with Darwen Council never seems to fund anything themselves, despite the ever-increasing council tax it raises from its residents.

KEITH REYNOLDS, Hindle Street, Darwen.

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