WE write to express our sadness at the news that Westhoughton Town Council has decided against being recognised as a Fairtrade Town.

Bolton was accredited as a Fairtrade Town in March, 2003, and Horwich in June, 2005. We believe both communities have benefited from the raised public awareness of what Fairtrade means.

The latest polls tell us that 78 per cent of the public recognise the Fairtrade logo and 80 per cent believe that buying ethically traded products is a good way to help reduce poverty in our world.

We are not talking about charity, but justice. The rules of international trade are weighted heavily against the poorest people of our world. Fairtrade guarantees farmers in the developing nations a way of trading themselves out of poverty and, ultimately, this is in our own self-interest if we want a sustainable world.

As some of Westhoughton’s councillors recognise, Westhoughton is already doing well in promoting the goodness of Fairtrade products.

Supermarkets, schools and churches are already leading the way by showing their commitment. It would be great if Westhoughton could join the other 554 towns, cities and villages across the UK who are already Fairtrade accredited.

The Fairtrade Foundation sets five targets for a town to become accredited. The first one requires the council to pass a resolution in support of Fairtrade and to use some Fairtrade products at its offices. The others require some retailers to be offering at least four Fairtrade products and some cafes at least two.

For a town the size of Westhoughton, just five retailers and three cafes are required. In addition, some local workplaces, places of worship and schools need to use Fairtrade products.

There has to be some media coverage and a steering group representing the community has to be formed to help develop and gain new support. Some of these targets have already been reached in Westhoughton. It would not take a great deal of work to reach the others.

Perhaps members of the public in Westhoughton would like to encourage their councillors to think again about their decision?

It is, after all, the public who have ensured that fairly traded products are available in stores.

No supermarket would stock products which do not sell.

Brian Bruce, Chair, Bolton Fairtrade Town Steering Group Jim Hollyman, Co-ordinator, Bolton Fairtrade Town Group Barbara Ronson, Chair, Horwich Fairtrade Town Group Barbara Anderton, Secretary, Horwich Fairtrade Group