IN reply to Kev Walsh (Letters, August 28)

Mr Walsh’s recollection of the council meeting that took place on August 26 is as far removed from reality as is possible. Mr Walsh readily admits that it’s the first council meeting he has ever attended, so let me explain a few things.

Firstly, it’s always going to be the case that councillors from opposing political parties are not going to agree with each other on everything. Mr Walsh, as a prominent Lib Dem supporter, should be fully aware of this, but he claims he was “horrified” that disagreements took place. He didn’t give the impression of being horrified and indeed several councillors had to ask him and his friends to be quiet at one point. This he incorrectly describes as me shouting at the public gallery, which is a complete fabrication.

Secondly, legitimate questions are asked to cabinet members and full answers are always given. Just because Mr Walsh did not agree with the answers, it does not make them any less legitimate.

Mr Walsh also makes a very unfair attack on Cllr David Chadwick who was answering a question on bus services. Cllr Chadwick was forced to give a detailed explanation that buses had been deregulated some 30 years, and local authorities have no power over them nowadays. Cllr Chadwick had to do this because Lib Dem Councillor, Andrew Martin, appeared to be unaware of this fact. Mr Walsh bizarrely bemoans the fact that Cllr Chadwick was being too detailed.

Finally, Mr Walsh makes a blatantly untrue statement saying “vacancy rates for shops in Bolton were in the top 10 worst in the NW”. This is factually incorrect. The reality is that shop vacancy rates are amongst the lowest in Greater Manchester and that Bolton town centre is amongst the top 10 employment centres in the North West.

I appreciate that the facts getting in the way of a good story won’t help Mr Walsh’s political agenda, but a bit of integrity and a bit of unbiased reporting from him would not do him any harm.

Cllr Nick Peel

Councillor for Tonge with the Haulgh Ward