I HAVE just come across a "Smithills Local Voice" from John Gillatt, a prospective labour candidate in the council elections, dated Autumn 2014.

The gentleman is lauding the fact that our Labour controlled council was about to spend £250,140 on footpaths and road surfacing on Smithills Dean Road.

The work is apparently now complete and we find that the northern stretch of road alongside open fields has a very nice footpath which replaces one that was upgraded not many years previously and which is used only by leisure walkers.

Meanwhile the southern stretch of the road which runs alongside houses is extensively used by the public particularly parents and children walking to St Peter's primary school. It has progressed from being in a bad state to being dangerous in parts.

This southern section of pavement was in fact in a bruised and battered state long before the previous upgrade of the lightly used northern stretch.

This situation seems typical of a decision from those in power and who seem unable to priorities where and how they spend the ratepayers' money.

D H Albinson

Smithills Dean Road,

Bolton.