IT is easy, but in my view irresponsible, to raise public expectations without properly presenting the full facts.

This is never better illustrated than two items in The Bolton News of April 3.

To circulate a petition calling for a compulsory purchase order ignores the fact that unless there is an alternative use, there is no prospect of a CPO being successful.

That would certainly be true in the case of the Three Pigeons at Astley Bridge where the developer is working within planning law having started redevelopment and there is no other proposed public use.

The council already owns far too many derelict buildings. I realise the Three Pigeons is an eyesore and can assure readers no one is more frustrated than ward councillors who are continually pressing for a resolution not just with the Three Pigeons, but also the former Brierfield Hotel, which is also an eyesore.

Again, no planning law has been broken so, frustratingly, action is not possible.

The second issue is the suggestion that Astley Bridge Cemetery Chapel is to be demolished.

No such proposal has been discussed with ward councillors who have regular discussions with Council Officers about the future of the building. The matter was discussed at the recent meeting of Astley Bridge Forum when those present agreed that to allow the building to fall into disrepair and end up being vandalised or worse still damaged by arson and then having to be demolished with no visible evidence of the chapel remaining was the worst possible option.

This has happened at Heaton Cemetery where only outline of the chapel now remains.

All the residents present understood this without dissent.

As was stated at the forum that a sum of up to £500,000 has been suggested as the costs of repairs to make the chapel fit for use.

It has, after all, been closed up for 40 years. If a viable alternative use could be found Astley Bridge councillors would be happy to support it, but, to date, no such use with the necessary funding has been identified.

To suggest as your correspondent does that councillors think otherwise is again irresponsible.

Cllr John Walsh

Astley Bridge Ward