MAY I comment on two items in the Readers Views over the past few days.

These are --

(a) The coal yard dispute at Blackrod. After experiencing the building of a new incinerator at the Royal Bolton Hospital, I am afraid it is rather useless to rely upon the local authority support. Although it was pointed out to the Planning Committee that Yorkshire Water had flouted planning laws, nothing was done. Consequently, the surrounding area has to endure smells, traffic and emissions which are in the middle of the hospital complex, to which has been added smoking shelters, many times ignored by visitors and patients.

(b) The comments about the missing grid cover which caused an accident to a pregnant lady. Has it never been realised that the Bolton Authority have one standard reply -- they have inspected the site a few days before, be it grid covers, broken pavements, badly-set kerbstones, potholes, trees falling on cars etc. Just how dangerous an independent witness states the accident site is, they are disbelieved by the insurers, yet the Authority's Report is accepted, although they have no witness at the site of the accident at the operative time. Strange!

(Name and address supplied)