SIR: Bolton Councillors are right to be concerned about the implications for local democracy of the low turnout in the local elections. However, they themselves must shoulder a large portion of the blame.

They have been determined in the past to avoid public participation, describing requests by public interest groups to be allowed to address the Council on important local issues as proposals for a "nutters' charter". Many meetings on contentious issues are held behind closed doors, and the public are frequently refused access to information to which they are legally entitled.

The comment we hear most from the general public is "What is the point of bothering? They will take no notice anyway." In these circumstances, is there any wonder that people are discouraged and lose interest in the process? Local democracy in Bolton has been a sickly patient for many years - and is now reaching the stage of terminal illness.

?Dennis Watson,

(For Bolton Friends

of the Earth)

?Millgate,

Egerton, Bolton.

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