MR T Riley writes, The Bolton News, Wednesday, January 31, that Westhoughton council chamber is a place where "debate flourishes". Well, I hope it does, and I hope it's not just all hot air and that something constructive comes from it, but I very much doubt it.
The town council has a planning committee who debate applications in Westhoughton and pass on their recommendations to Bolton Council, also the extra council tax raised by Westhoughton is directed at charities and projects of the town councillors' pleasing Outside of this, nothing much happens, and I repeat my comment in a previous letter that Westhoughton town council is nothing more than a talking shop.
It is, of course, part of the democratic process that taxpayers/electorate have the chance to question elected members, and this is where councillors' surgeries and area forums come in. It is also democratic that, if Westhoughton taxpayers are happy to pay extra tax for their town council, then so be it. Mr Riley writes that "debate flourishes", but I regret to inform him that, in a chamber without power, debate dies.
Eric Hyland Bolton Green Party
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