I AM amazed that councillors are being urged by council officers to turn down plans to build a new petrol station with car wash and shop on Preston New Road (LET, April 19) because of its likely impact on New Bank Road.

Why? Nothing can spoil New Bank Road in the state that it is in now.

It used to be smart and clean. It had every shop you needed - several confectioners, butchers, hairdressers, shoe shop, dress shops, drapers, electricians, shops that sold fish - you did not need to go to town for anything.

As soon as a shop becomes vacant now, it is most likely to be turned into living accommodation.

There are cars parked on the pavements. Canopies over the shop windows have been vandalised. A corner greengrocers has more rubbish than will fit into its skips.

No-one is taking a pride in their environment and New Bank Road is becoming more dirty and shabby day by day.

There has always been a garage on Preston New Road - Cronshaw's, and then West End Garage, as it was then known. Anything new that is built there can only give the area an uplift and have a positive impact.

BARBARA RIDING. Fairhope Court, Blackburn.

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