SIR: It was with utter disbelief that I read the article (BEN, March 5): £3m Council jobs protection fund".

What normal employer would pay a person wages when he had no job and then pay him the same wages even when he was down-graded?

The whole system stinks and the departmental managers and directors who agreed to it, should be sacked now.

I note the date it started, 1992, the year all the great unwashed were demonstrating on the Town Hall steps and stating "they were not going to pay their Poll Tax", members of the Town Hall among them.

It is obvious it was a case of weak, inefficient managers and directors surrendering to aggressive Union behaviour: "Sack one and we're all out". I wonder how much is still owed on the Poll Tax?

As for retraining, I suggest that all those who have been paid for doing nothing for the last few years are retained to cover the 73 new jobs (BEN March 4 page 4). More cash and care for the town's elderly - 73 jobs, minimum salary £10,000. £10,000 x 73 £730,000 doesn't leave much out of £1M for the elderly does it?

R Turnham

Dovedale Road

Bolton

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