REGARDING your report (LET, July 1) about three seats on Darwen's regeneration board being available to residents, I wonder if they will ever actually be filled.

I have been to the workshops and regeneration meetings and was disappointed at the last one held at Derwent Hall.

If we go back a few months, it was stated that whoever attended these meetings would be kept up to date every step of the way with what was happening.

My letter of invitation to the last meeting arrived just two days before the meeting and at the end of it we were all given a list of people who had been selected to form the committee.

One nominated was Councillor David Smith and I am sure that we all know his views as far as how much money has been invested in Darwen is concerned.

The council is spending £1million to mount an operation to clean up the borough -- money that has come from nowhere. But if it is short on money why does it not sell some of its assets, namely Blackburn Transport. I am sure this would go a long way to pay for Darwen Town Hall to be refurbished.

Will we have to make do again for yet another year with a tin of emulsion to paint the clock?

If indeed Darwen is getting its full entitlement of grants, as stated in a letter by Mr M J Arbles (Letters, July 2), why is the council bothering to run regeneration workshops and have a regeneration committee?

I wish all the people on the committee well as there are some good and willing people on it. But if this regeneration is the last best plan that Blackburn with Darwen Council can offer, then heaven help us.

ROY DAVIES, Olive Lane, Darwen.