I AM responding to the story about area forums. A community is comprised of a group (or groups) of residents with a single identity or interest.

This has occurred in Great Lever, the area, not the electoral ward, and has been recognised not only by the community, but by the council and the Government, who are funding the Great Lever Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder initiative, one of only 20 in the country.

Unfortunately, the boundary covers three electoral wards - Rumworth, Great Lever and Harper Green - and at present is served by two area forums. This, I am sure you will admit, is a bizarre situation, and one of the aims of the Area Working Policy Development Group as highlighted in your article was to prevent artificial splits in natural communities such as had occurred here.

An option to combine these three wards in one area forum was obviously turned down by the Liberal Democrat Executive.

I always understood that the Lib Dems were big on community involvement - it would appear that this only applies to wards that they control. I learnt very early in my political career that one should consider all the borough, not just one's own fiefdom when making decisions. Ah well - no Lib Dem councillors in the Great Lever area, no community cohesion!

Margaret E. Clare

Councillor Harper Green Ward

Chair Great Lever Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder Board