BOLTON Town Council is responsible for the fiasco regarding collection of mail from the new postal depot.

I write in response to the letter by Peter Johnston, published in Monday, June 25 edition of The Bolton News, which he wrote in answer to my letter, in which I commented on the absurdity of the new arrangement for collection of undelivered mail, which entails the townsfolk of Bolton having to visit a distant and difficult-to-reach area instead of going, as we have done for many years, to collect them from the easily accessible Deansgate Post Office in Bolton's town centre.

I can't agree with his statement that the Bolton Council members are not to blame for this fiasco. He says that it was a change requested by The Royal Mail, and it was not within the power of the council to deny this change. But then he goes on to destroy his own argument by revealing that, before this change could take place, our town council had to give planning permission for the work at the new venue to commence.

Surely, in a case like this, the council had the right to deny the work on the solid grounds that using the new depot would result in a great deal of inconvenience to the people of Bolton. His attempt to exonerate Bolton Town Council from any responsibility in this affair is absurd. It would be laughable were it not so serious in its consequences.

The population of Bolton is getting older because modern living conditions continue to improve. It should be the main priority of our town councillors to help them live better and more agreeable lives; and leaving the town centre postal collection system where it was, and had been for many years, is something that our elected representatives should have committed themselves to doing.

However, the solution is simple. Keep the Calvin Street facilities - after all, they have been built now and will no doubt provide good service. But also keep the Deansgate facility in use for the people of Bolton to collect their parcels from.

Albert Hornby, Ladybridge, Bolton