MY mother and I fancied a trip into Blackburn to take a look at the market.

Gosh, what market? There are hardly any stalls, there is no variety of commodities. People who have helped to make Blackburn, who have traded on the market for years, since I was a child, have gone.

If you want material, costume jewellery, computer accessories, then Blackburn is the place to go. The established traders are being forced out I believe, because of high rents/rates.

So now we are going to create a new six-day market. What are the rents and rates going to be for trading six days?

What merchandise are we going to see, or is this going to be another big disappointment?

I have spoken to many people of the town, who travel to other areas of the town or even other towns to shop, where they are not overcharged for parking and there is more choice.

Councillors only come out at election time and will promise you the moon if they can rely on your vote.

I think, and I am sure that I can speak for many others, that Blackburn is going down big style and sadly once that happens it is not so easy to get back up again.

You should be encouraging people to come into Blackburn, not driving them away.

I have had more fun and excitement in writing this letter than I did in visiting Blackburn centre and surrounding areas and I was born and bred here.

JANET PHILLIPS, Lindisfarne Avenue, Blackburn.