IT should be quite obvious that this is no longer government of, by and for the people: which nearer home is demonstrated by the attitude of County Councillor Chris Cheetham and colleagues towards the closure of care homes.

In my opinion, the so-called consultations are simply a diversionary tactic whereby they can always claim that the consultations did take place. Has the final decision already been taken?

Perhaps the most surprising occurrence has been the objections of local Labour MPs to these closures. After all, didn't the directive to up-date these homes come via a regional Labour body, if not from Millbank itself?

The whole situation smells -- from the county council's inability to maintain the properties to the very idea of en-suite accommodation for very elderly people.

R BRACEWELL (Mr), Ormerod Street, Worsthorne, Burnley.