I FIND it hard to believe that Norman Finch (Letters, December 16) is so concerned on what may, or may not happen when and if Darwen gets independence, or an Arndale centre. I can assure him that Darwen will honour its commitments just as much as Blackburn which took us over in 1974.

I don't know how old Mr Finch is, but I can remember Darwen workmen with a flat bed wagon shovelling grit on to the road in Union Street. But, of course, that was when there was an agreement between Blackburn and Darwen councils -- that Blackburn had the gritters during the winter and Darwen could have them in summer. That was sorted out last year when neither Blackburn nor Darwen got them.

Mr Finch mocks the thought of Darwen either being independent or having an Arndale Centre. I wonder if he did the same when Blackburn started its 10-year plan for regeneration.

This privilege has not yet been afforded to Darwen, yet it will not be until spring of next year before we even have a strategy plan.

The point is, that I love Darwen, but I don't love what Darwen has become -- and the responsibility for this must lay squarely at Blackburn Town Hall steps.

ROY DAVIES, Olive Lane, Darwen.