I AM sure that many Rossendale residents will share my perplexity over why they should end up being punished for being governed by a council officially branded the worst in the country by the government's Audit Commission watchdog.

They have, after all, already had to swallow not only this grim fact and the shabby services that went with it, but also the insult of being hit in return with one of the steepest-ever increases in council tax.

Now, they find that five of the Valley's leisure facilities -- Rawtenstall's Astoria ballroom, Whitworth Swimming Pool, the Aged, Blind and Disabled Centre in Bacup, Haslingden's Public Hall and the gem Rossendale Museum in Whittaker Park currently marking its centenary -- are to be shut to save nearly £400,000 to restore the failing council's depleted balances.

Yet, on what do we find that these savings are to be spent? It is a recovery plan demanded by the Audit Commission which entails extra expenditure to improve the delivery of housing benefits, training for councillors and officials and improvements in health and safety and communications.

In other words, these cuts hitting the community are to finance a level of service that Rossendale residents should have been getting to begin with and were paying dearly for but not getting and now must sacrifice precious and much-loved facilities in order to have a hope of.

What a scandal! If there was any justice, Rossendale's shamed councillors would have the grace to forego the generous expenses and allowances they claim from the Valley's taxpayers.

And, failing that, the government should provide this £400,000 -- the cost of keeping a few asylum seekers in comfort, benefits or driving lessons for a few weeks -- to spare the dumped-on Rossendale residents from having even fewer services than the rotten ones they have been paying through the nose for.