REGARDING the pathetic whining comments in the Lancashire Telegraph on Wednesday, November 24 made by Councillor (insert name here). . .

You’ll have to forgive the vague reference, as I write this on Tuesday the 23rd in anticipation of the council’s bleating response to news that Preston has been granted permission to go ahead with the Tithebarn development.

My family and I regularly shop in Preston and also Accrington, and have done so ever since Blackburn Council began its systematic and relentless campaign to turn Blackburn town centre into a ghost town over a decade ago.

The endless construction, exorbitant parking fees, unnavigable one-way system, and army of parking gestapo (sorry, I mean attendants) has driven all but the hardiest of shoppers into the surrounding towns and retail parks.

This lack of customers, along with the ever-increasing rents and business rates that are charged, presumably to fund the never-ending stream of pointless statues, has also driven away most of the major retailers.

Jack Straw tried to jump on to this bandwagon last week, citing traffic congestion, lack of parking and gridlock as reasons to deny the application.

We travel from Blackburn to Preston in approximately 15-20 minutes, and never have any problem finding reasonably priced parking.

That’s about 15 minutes less than it would take us to drive into the constantly congested Blackburn centre, and far cheaper too.

Good luck and best wishes, Preston, is all I can say. I look forward to visiting the Tithebarn when it’s complete.

NAME and address supplied.