IN reply to H W Fogarty (Letters, March 28), why is it the same two or three people who seem to be the only ones who write to complain about the 17 per cent increase in Blackburn's council tax? Could it be that their letters are politically motivated? No, surely not!

The fact is that most people were aware that an increase of this nature was going to happen and were warned of the probability when there was no increase last year.

How can Mr Fogarty compare Blackburn and Darwen with Preston? I have friends that live in the Preston area and you should hear what they have to contend with.

Everyone I speak to in my capacity as committee member of Ewood Community Centre and as a delegate to Blackburn Safer Cities Project is happy with the facilities provided by Blackburn Council.

Let's face it, if we wanted to find something to moan about, it wouldn't be difficult would it?

Instead of looking for faults, wouldn't it be better to boast to people in other towns such as Preston about the good things that are happening in Blackburn?

JOHN MILBURN, Laxey Road, Blackburn.

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