I WOULD like to correct some of the “facts” Cllr Rock offered in his letter of November 13.

He said he is not a member of the Residents’ Association. As a resident, he is a member. I presume he intended to say he is not a committee member.

He was a committee member until two years ago (his last attendance was on September 26, 2006) and his past committee experience should have taught him that residents do receive invitations to the AGM in spite of his claim to the contrary. Our constitution requires this. The committee conscientiously invites residents and distributes a newsletter once a year.

Cllr Rock was correct to say the association is non-political. He has accused the committee on a previous occasion of being political, and was instrumental in persuading Bolton at Home to conduct an investigation into the running of the association.

Bolton at Home found there was no substance to the charge.

We have, as yet, received no apology from Cllr Rock for the accusation. Nor has he responded to Bolton at Home’s offer to give “whatever support is necessary” to improve the relationship between the association and Cllr Rock.

In my letter to The Bolton News (November 3), I said the objectors pictured were predominantly Lib-Dem councillors. It is my belief that most residents favoured the playground and that opposition was led by Cllr Rock whose house overlooks the proposed site, and who, sadly, has adopted a NIMBY attitude.

Cllr Rock said a petition of opposition had 33 signatures. The report to Bolton Council’s planning committee said two petitions had been received, with 11 signatures in total, while a petition supporting the development had 36. Planning officers recommended approval and said this scheme would be a valuable addition to the community.

Unfortunately, largely because of Cllr Rock’s lobbying, the committee turned down the plan. He asks us to consider the residents. Aren’t children residents?

Kevin McKeon, Makinson Avenue, Horwich