SIR: Well done Bolton Council for yet another mind-boggling blunder. Yes, I am of course referring to Friday's road chaos. Accidents, tailbacks and misery for all, because our pitifully pathetic Highways Department in 1996, haven't yet learned how to sprinkle salt on our roads, despite ample warning.

Mr Richard Wilson the Highways Group Engineer is quoted in Friday's BEN as saying: "We did not grit because the wind would have blown it up against the kerb and at £20 a ton for gritting salt it would have been a waste."

Well let me tell Bolton Council don't ever risk the lives again of every person in Bolton going about their day, and then have the effrontery to insult us by telling us that salt is £20 a ton. Is that all we are worth?

The Council has consistently showed indifference to the people it should be serving. They learned nothing from last year. Nothing.

Shame on you. If I were Sheriff I'd run the lot of you out of town.

Graham Baxter, Bromwich Street, Bolton

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