GSMITH (Letters, November 12) has seen the light as to what Blackburn's Labour councillors are about.

They told us it would cost £250,000 for the council's changeover to unitary status. Now, as soon as it is confirmed, snouts are in the trough for another £6 million.

Mr Smith is quite right - the people of Blackburn are paying more for their services than they need to. In fact, they are paying and the services are not being delivered.

Just look at the town - roads and footpaths are breaking up everywhere; wherever you look rubbish is piling up high and there are 20,000 unfit houses through the council's neglect.

And the gem of them all must be the council scheme to attract tenants is not working (LET, November 12).

There are hundreds of houses standing empty, having had millions of pounds spent on them. This crass policy of the New Labour politicians appears to be devoid of any concern for the taxpayer.

How can they have thousands of names on the waiting list and, yet, have hundreds of empty council houses? It does not make sense.

WALT MEADOWS, Whalley New Road, Blackburn.

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