MIKE Hoyle (Letters, January 10) is quite right to lambast Blackburn with Darwen Council's abysmal gritting performance.

But his suggestion that we move to the services of 2002 is most frightening indeed.

What is needed is a return to the standard of 1960 services and use them as a focal point and build on them for from that date, they have fallen year on year.

Councillor Ashley Whalley is, no doubt, correct when he says the council has no legal obligation to carry out gritting. But when councillors were elected they were expected to give the people the services they need -- and that includes safe roads and footpaths.

WALT MEADOWS, Whalley New Road, Blackburn.