COULD I express my utter disgust at the council in Bury who, in their infinite wisdom, have decided not to do anything about the toxic algae on the Lido (Bury Times, Aug 20). They are evidently hoping that the weather will change and sort out the problem for them.

I grew up in Bury, and lived near to Clarence Lido in the 50s and 60s. I always enjoyed walking round and swimming in the Lido in the days when it was known as "Walmersley Reservoir". During the summer it was crowded and even after the modernisation it was still well used. I took my children there from being babies and we used to have picnics on the grassy areas, which at that time were not covered with dog filth.

Over the years it has been neglected, but even now many people still get pleasure from walking round it. The people from the model boat club enjoyed using the facilities, as did the people who went to watch them. I do not now live in Bury, but once a week I visit my friend who lives near the Lido. She has difficulty walking, but we enjoyed the small amount of walking that she can do, because the area around the Lido was flat and the air was reasonably clean.

Now it is not safe to walk round there, because the water is dangerous and the area is disgusting. Many elderly people enjoy the area, and the facilities offered by the pensioners club located there. But how long will it be before that place is declared unsafe.

I realise that the council have limited resources but the fact is that this area is a health hazard located within a quarter-of-a-mile of a busy hospital. I wonder if the council would have the same uncaring attitude if the algae were located within the area of the town hall. I think not.

If - and it is a big IF - the algae does disperse later in the year, then what happens next year?

The initial cost of solving this problem would probably have been no more than the cost of a new carpet for the council chamber.

JOAN WALSH

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.