MR M Pickup certainly has a point in his letter of September 16, regarding the controversy over the proposed ban on fox hunting.

Although a ban is supported by the majority of the public including members and supporters of the Labour Party, many must be bemused as to why elected representatives can work up such a head of steam on this issue and remain passive -- on a) the low level of the disappearing basic state pension, b) privatisation of public services, c) the illegal war on Iraq and d) locally the proposed demolition of houses in the Redearth Road area against a background of soaring house prices.

Redearth Road residents worried about their future can take heart.

Decisions on compulsory purchase of houses can and have been reversed and anything is possible with a general election forecast to take place in May of next year.

DON RISHTON, Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn.