I TAKE it that Councillor Rock is a rabid rider of the no-smoking band-wagon,. "Fears over pub smoking shelter", The Bolton News, June 25).

His attitude to the proposed shelter at the Bridge Inn is a bit over the top to say the least!

I have been a drinker at the pub for many years and have never seen one fight. The chances of someone, out of the blue, and just by chance that they find a heavy post outside, battering someone over the head, is pretty slim, I'd say.

The Bridge Inn, by the sound of it, is just trying to cater for its customers.

Yes, a smoking ban has been endorsed and is soon to begin, but until it is outlawed completely, smokers should be able to visit their local pubs, some who are thoughtful enough to provide them with areas to smoke.

Not only is a rejection of this smoking area wrong, it would put the Bridge Inn at a disadvantage where other pubs have been allowed to erect smoking areas. Clientele may feel obliged to move their custom, this surely would be abuse of the council's power. Pitting one business person against another unfairly is wrong.

Which brings me to my next point.

Is Councillor Rock just going to advocate only the Bridge Inn be barred from providing for their customers? Or is he going to "talk the talk" and vote for the ban of all smoking areas?

Non-smokers have already won the fight, now please don't rub smokers' noses in it, or else the next operation you need may not be funded anymore!

Mr Ian G Whittle, Bolton