The letter from Bob Wilkinson actually astonished me (Leyland Must Control Itself, Citizen, February 23).

He seems to think that the annexation of Walton-le-Dale and other minor authorities into the larger South Ribble was to the detriment of Leyland.

I have to tell him that we in Walton-le-Dale felt just as strongly that it was to our detriment.

I recall that very soon after the new authority was formed, the roughest elements of their council house tenants were given homes in Bamber Bridge.

The Leyland authority seemed to think that putting these often undesirables among the local people would encourage them to rethink their lifestyle, but sadly this was not so.

Also, having the administrative centre in Leyland but not providing a regular, frequent and suitable bus service puts anyone without motor transport in the difficult position of having to telephone or write to the council -- not always a satisfactory way.

Not everyone has their own transport and I would say at least 90 per cent of those who were under the Walton-le-Dale Urban District Council have never really found any benefit from the move.

Let us, for heaven's sake, stay as we are.

Bigger does not mean better. I have no wish at all to become part of a Preston, Chorley, South Ribble unitary authority.

There is a lot about Preston I don't like.

I don't like shopping in Preston any more either and, if I wished to be a Prestonian, I would endeavour to move and reside there.

Gwendoline A Taylor

Brown Lane

Bamber Bridge