WALKING around Blackburn, one cannot but help notice the new forms of modern act decorating the streets.

These sculptures take the form of litter bins piled to overflowing with rubbish.

I assume that they must be meant to be only ornamental because, over long periods, the same litter appears to be on display.

Also on my travels I have, when it rains, frequently been splashed by passing cars because of the volume of water swilling down the road.

I seem to recollect that, at one time, there were gullies in the road to take away the surplus water.

Perhaps it is a new council policy to save money by allowing these gullies to become blocked and, thus, allow the rain to swill down the unswept streets.

If this is so, could the policy please be changed back?

Seriously, if the council cannot look after these comparatively simple issues, how are they going to cope with the far more important ones that will arise when unitary status begins?

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.