REGARDING the ludicrous decision of the so-called Council of the Year to force a businessman to close down because he is providing a service rather than retail goods.

He has chosen to invest money into Blackburn at a time when we don't seem to be able to attract many investors at all.

Not long ago Burton's menswear in the same block on King William Street shut down to be replaced, not by a retail shop, but by a bank. The Halifax is no more a retail outlet than Puccino's, so where is the difference?

Surely, a coffee shop is a much more enticing venture than the fairground-style burger van, which apparently cannot be a non-retail outlet because we don't want them in King William Street.

We also have a large department store which was allowed to open a coffee shop in their store there. I believe we have two fast-food stores, both of course multi-national outlets. Then how many banks or building societies? I think there are at least nine.

And what about the job agency which opened about the same time as Puccino's? That, surely, is classed as a non-retail outlet.

I make specific journeys into Blackburn and go to Puccino's, as I am sure many other people do. I cannot recall going into the cafe and it not being at least half full, if not completely full.

Why doesn't the council ask if we, the people who use the town centre, want to keep Puccino's? But, then again, maybe they won't do that as it would mean listening to us.

This is just another case of small business being overlooked along with the feelings of the residents of Blackburn.

If Puccino's is forced to close, my advice to anyone thinking of investing in Blackburn is to go elsewhere as obviously Blackburn Council doesn't want you.

L BIBBY, Bank Lane, Blackburn.