IT is very disturbing that Hyndburn has been knocked back by the Lottery Commission for money to revamp leisure facilities (LET, February 18).

But there are questions to be asked of this Labour-controlled council - in as much as after their being in control for 13 years, why have our leisure facilities been allowed to deteriorate to their present condition?

It now appears that this very necessary service is being treated as a lottery.

Over a 13-year period, we have seen our football pitches deteriorate to an appalling standard. Our parks are in a terrible state with bowling greens in a mess.

Mind you, this is hardly surprising when members of the bowling team at Rhyddings Park, Oswaldtwistle, complained about football being played on the green, only to be told by a Labour councillor that it was perfectly all right for football to be played on bowling greens. Needless to say, she is long gone - sent on her bike last May.

Council tax payers have a right to good quality leisure facilities. After all,. this is what they pay for.

These facilities should not depend on a lottery grant. Maybe the £1.5 million from the council's sale of assets can be put to better use than palatial new council offices.

The people of Hyndburn will have the answer in their own hands on May 6 this year.

JOHN FARRER, Mallard Place, Oswaldtwistle.

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