IT would appear that, in his attempts to court popularity, Cllr Guy Harkin, the Executive Member for Environment, will allow nothing to get in his way. Not even the truth!

In his attack on the Bolton Evening News and its reporting of car parking charges for charities, he also accuses me of lying -- a charge I leave to your readers to judge, but the facts are clear.

In September, the council, under Cllr Harkin's Environment portfolio, took over responsibility for parking enforcement. His Environment Department wrote on September 21 to the Guide Dogs for the Blind: "This means that, unfortunately, we are unable to continue with free parking for yourselves and other charities throughout the Borough." I have a copy of that letter.

Accordingly, I raised the matter at a meeting on the morning of Tuesday, October 31, the day your original report appeared. Councillor Harkin is right to say that he chaired the meeting and that all councillors present agreed with me that such a policy needed to be changed. This I trust will now be done and I am very pleased. Others present, councillors and officers, have confirmed to me that I did raise the matter. The issue raises a very serious point. The argument for the new Executive arrangements introduced by the Labour Party was that, unlike the old committee system which was known to work, the new arrangements would bring greater accountability. In other words, the councillor responsible for making a decision would be known.

As Cllr Harkin is the Executive Member for Environment and his Department wrote the letter in question, who is responsible? Cllr John Walsh Deputy Leader

Conservative Group

Bolton MBC