SIR: I refer to the letter from M Perks. The Horwich Ward councillors fought hard in Bolton Council against the closure of Stocks Park house and sympathise entirely with the residents and their families. I cannot accept the accusation that the closure was 'cold and calculated' as Mr Perks suggests. Hours of debate in committee preceded the decision and neither councillors nor officers took the matter lightly. I would ask if this is the same M Perks who once represented the Tory Party on Horwich Council.

He refers in his letter to money from house building which is not yet available to the Council and which will only be used for capital projects. It is increased revenue which is needed if the Council is to maintain services. If Mr Perks wishes to point to 'wasted money' he needs only to examine the way in which the Government makes councils compete against each other for funding, which should be theirs by right. We cannot afford not to compete for this money. Councils are prevented from raising extra Council Tax by Government 'capping'.

The Liberal Democrats is the only party committed to increasing taxations to fund public spending and to preserving services.

Cllr Bob Ronson

Liberal Democrat

Lower Makinson Fold, Horwich

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.