LOOK at this timetable: BEN August 22: According to Cllr Noel Spencer chairman of Bolton housing committee, there are 20,000 houses in Bolton unfit to live in, with 6,000 close to being condemned.

BEN August 25: Bolton could be expected to house more than 1,300 asylum seekers. Housing officials and councillors are "shocked". Cllr Linda Thomas, vice-chairwoman of the housing committee, describes the numbers as unrealistic and ".... this would be stretching it a bit too far."

BEN Opinion, same day: "No. It would be stretching it a lot."

BEN September 6 (Your Views): Readers speak out against, in particular, bogus refugees.

BEN September 8: Council to give power to the people. Cllr N Spencer: "... 'radical departure' of how decisions used to be taken."

Bolton Journal Sept 9: Bolton will take its share of immigrants after all. Cllr Spencer: "We will do all we can to help the plight of asylum seekers - we will be asking the government to relieve some of the South coast towns ...".

While his own Home Secretary (who, we learn, does not know the figures) tries desperately to stem the tide, especially by keeping bogus refugees out, Cllr Spencer prepares to open the flood gates, also defying the wishes of most voters. Like so many do-gooders, he too likes to do the talking, but leaves US with the sacrificing. There is never enough money for decent housing, safe pavements, schools, health, and many more basics, yet Cllr Spencer will now find funds for the new influx.

It is true that this country has always done its bit "to help people who are under pressure" - from other countries that is, and it was mainly the now older folk who actually paid and suffered for it and did all the sacrifices. I would have thought it is time that Cllr Spencer and the rest showed them a little compassion for a change!

B Stuart

Lord's Stile Lane

Bromley Cross

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.