THE decision of the controlling Labour group on Blackburn Council to oppose the Liberal Democrat motion on parish councils (LET, February 26) shows that New Labour is still the same old power-hungry party it has been for years.

The motion put before the council was not even to set up parish councils in Blackburn, but to support proposals to give the people more say in whether they should have such a council.

The Local Government Review stressed the need for more parish and town councils and the important role they have to play in local government. It seems, however, that the Labour councillors, while rightly decrying the loss of powers to central government, are unwilling to allow local people more say in the way their communities are run.

STEVE FENN, Blackburn Liberal Democrats Parliamentary spokesperson, Blackburn Road, Heapey, Chorley.

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