IN reply to Mike Houlston's letter (Friday, September 17). If he thinks Council Tax will come down, with the current system in operation, then he hasn't got much hope of that.

Not while central government gives with one hand and takes away with the other and then expects local councils to continue to provide better services.

The Government is very good at giving local councils initiatives that they want putting into place and running on their behalf - while providing little, if any, extra money to fund it.

As for the welcome signs in Horwich - these are to provide visitors to the town with maps to show them where the local streets are and places to go. Most towns have these to direct newcomers around the town. Why shouldn't Horwich do the same?

Regarding the CCTV system - the District Centre Improvement Fund award of £20,000 is money to be used on CAPITAL projects, such as new signage. The CCTV system is a REVENUE project, and we are not allowed to use capital for revenue.

At least you agree with me that the CCTV cameras will benefit the whole community. The shopkeepers are part of the community as well.

Even the local police agree with both town councils, and they cannot understand what the problem is. They are currently engaging local shops by letter in both Horwich and Westhoughton and asking them to support the CCTV schemes financially.

Horwich and Westhoughton town councils do not receive a single penny of the shopkeepers' business rates. That is collected by Bolton Council and forwarded to central government in London.

All both town councils are asking for is a contribution to the running cost of the systems of approximately £2 a week so they can write that off as part of their business expenses.

There will be two final meetings with local traders and the town councils. Westhoughton's meeting will be on Tuesday, October 12, at 7pm in the Carnegie Hall, Westhoughton. Horwich's meeting will be on Thursday, October 14, at 7.30pm in Horwich.

We hope the traders will come and talk to both town councils. But on past history the traders have ignored us on the basis that if they don't pay, they don't reply. If they don't talk to us, they cannot make excuses for paying and expect both town councils to carry on with the scheme which both the local taxpayers of Horwich and Westhoughton are already paying for through the precept which they pay to both town councils.

Ask yourself this question - which is cheaper: £2 a week to keep the system turned on and the town centre safe for all to use, or a broken plate glass window, time and time again?

The ball is now in the traders' and local businesses' court and the clock is ticking. If they don't put their hands in their pockets and contribute, and the town councils decide to turn the systems off, then it WILL be the traders and local businesses' fault.

Cllr John Cronnolley

Leader, Horwich Town Council