I REPLY to letter (A Case for the Ombudsman) BEN January 15, 1999, by George Brown with reference to Singing Clough.

Well, Mr Brown, it seems there is planning permission with special permission for Bolton Council Planning Committee. The rules seem to be out of the door. Obviously they don't want to listen to the voice they are supposed to represent and are hell bent on bringing more industry, roads and traffic into our communities. I ask who would vote for this kind of representation, with the decline in industry as it is now, and all the empty industrial units around us at present?

We have already had the Ombudsman in and he took up our case, made his visit to the Town Hall committee, and now he is no longer an inspecting officer, he is off the case. Believe me, George, I know. The Ombudsman is just a piece in a jigsaw, and seems to have no teeth - another expensive burden for the tax-payers to carry. It seems the developers decide our fate and who to push around, and our children will grow up to play in units and pollution instead of open fields. So why not stand united?

Bill Collison

Bolton Road, Kearsley

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