I AM not so unreasonable as to expect the Council to protect me from the rain as it is falling.

However, I do not think I am being unreasonable in expecting them to provide protection once it hits the ground.

The other evening, while out walking, I was caught in a downpour. Fortunately, I had had the foresight to equip myself with an umbrella.

Yet I got drenched by the sheets of water thrown up by passing traffic.

At one time, there used to be drains in the street known as quillies, but, over the past few years, these seem to have been converted into green mini conservation areas.

Attractive though they are, I wonder if they could be restored to their original purpose.

There also are problems with 'ponding' on some of the new paved areas in the town centre.

Possibly, if we reduced the number of councillors, their expenses could be spent on remedying these shortcomings.

G SMITH, Bold Street, Blackburn.

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