No poppy snub

The general impression given is that we are an uncaring and high-handed council not interested in the concerns of the British Legion. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The situation is as follows:

When the council became unitary in April 1998, it was clear that accommodation would be at a premium within the town hall complex. I advised the British Legion that we would need to make other arrangements.

However, we were unable to do so last year and we allowed the British Legion to use their usual room in the town hall although this caused considerable inconvenience to other users.

Shortly after Remembrance Day last year, myself and other council staff met with Royal British Legion officials to consider alternatives. We initially explored the King George's Hall complex.

There were two problems here. One was the difficulty of making a space exclusively available for four weeks, and secondly, as a number of people associated with the Poppy Appeal are disabled or have mobility problems, there is no easily accessible all day parking facility nearby. There are also many stairs in the King George's Hall complex.

So we suggested Corporation Park Lodge, which is adjacent to the Garden of Remembrance, on the level, and with good parking facilities right outside. It is also on a regular bus route.

Exclusive use of the property was available to the Poppy Appeal officials but some work was needed to make the building suitable.

Some time in June this year Mr Pat Browne, who is featured in your article, examined the property and deemed it suitable. We therefore went ahead and carried out the appropriate work.

This accommodation is provided free of charge, as was the use of the town hall in previous years. The first I knew of any problem was when I saw your newspaper article on Saturday.

I have no wish to enter a slanging match with the organisers of the Poppy Appeal through your columns, but I feel your readers may view matters differently when in possession of the full facts.

PHILIP WATSON, Chief Executive, Blackburn with Darwen Council.

EDITOR'S FOOTNOTE: Mr Browne has no dispute over the quality of the accommodation offered -- only its location and he said council officials were aware of this.

We quoted him in the story saying: "The new office is fine and the council did a lot of work to make it ready for us but it's in the wrong place." lackburn Council's press officer was told of British Legion's complaints 24 hours before publication. His comments were included but we were told Mr Watson was not available to comment.