I NOTICE that on reading the latest factfile regarding local schools that, once again, cleaning operatives seem to be non-existent.

Perhaps the teaching and other staff mentioned clean the schools themselves, in their own time, to reduce the school budget. Or perhaps they do have cleaners but feel that they are not worth mentioning.

I suspect the latter, and would say that all cleaners provide an essential service in schools and other buildings, in many cases working unsocial hours without any extra pay.

Without cleaners, schools etc would be closed under health and safety regulations, and as a matter of courtesy should always be acknowledged for the service that they provide, irrespective of which department of Bolton MBC they are attached to.

Mr J Cupitt

North Avenue, Farnworth

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