THE inquiry into how planning decisions are made in Bolton is to be welcomed and from memory I think Cllr. Peel said "Bring it on" (or similar) when it was requested last year.

All council decisions should be freely available to council tax payers especially decisions on planning matters which could vary from large commercial to a house extension. The opportunity for a favourable result in return for favours is obvious and the insinuation of dishonest practice should be met with a full, open and transparent investigation.

An investigation will now take place and all Labour councillors should demand that the team responsible look into every aspect of decision making if only to quash allegations of corruption.

Bolton council is limiting the remit of the Local Government Association and is also arrogantly telling democratically elected union leaders to concentrate on conditions of its members, in other words, keep your nose out when council employees wish to contribute.

All this is on top of stopping certain political parties attending some important meetings, a reduction in the time councillors can speak at council meetings and a closing time imposed on full council meetings. (Why?)

Not good at all, this Stalinist behaviour reflects very badly on the ruling Labour councillors.

Eric Hyland

Hardwood