IN expressing 'amazement and disgust' at Blackburn Council investing £40,000 to combat the problem of stress at work, the correspondent (Letters, April 2) clearly misses the point.

The existence of stress in the workplace, as in life in general, is widely accepted by health experts, governments, academics and managers. The main causes are generally centred around change and security issues.

Blackburn's transition to a unitary authority will bring about change and insecurity in great measure for all employees.

Research shows that organisations who manage and address workplace stress increase efficiency and have a healthy, motivated workforce.

Surely, the fact that many people are suffering stress in other situations is no reason to ignore it in Blackburn Council where sensible measures can be introduced to address the problem and bring about increases in efficiency thus rewarding the investment.

IAN PARKER, Aysgarth Drive, Accrington.

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