I AM writing to express my reservations about certain aspects of the consultation process concerning a planning application made by West Pennine Housing Association (WPHA).

I understand that the project is a joint venture between the WPHA and Bury Council. If this is so, people will understand my scepticism over the fact that one of the interested parties is also conducting the consultation process.

Neighbours will leave the council in no doubt as to their concerns about the proposal itself, but I am equally concerned about the consultation process and the lack of information being provided by the planning department.

In particular, the proposal involves the felling of trees, yet on each occasion when I queried the number of trees involved, I was told the plans were currently "unavailable" and that a site inspection was still necessary.

When I asked when such inspection would take place, I got the vague reply: "I think it might be some time next week".

Since we have got a maximum of three weeks to register comments, I thought the reply betrayed, at best, a degree of indifference and, at worst, outright evasiveness.

I am also staggered that, given today's technology, the plans are not readily available by computer.

Of further concern is the small number of households who have received official notification of the application. Whilst it includes people -- like myself -- who live directly adjacent to the site, it excludes a much larger number of council tax payers who would be affected by the proposals.

My final concern relates to the fact that the council appears to be acting as though planning consent has already been granted.

Bury Lions, who currently house their "Santa Sleigh" in a garage on the site, have already been given notice to quit, and have recently appealed -- through the Bury Times -- for alternative accommodation.

I have been informed by the council's estate section that title to the land has already passed from Bury Council to the applicants. Clearly both parties would therefore be embarrassed if planning consent were withheld, and the implications of that are obvious.

I would be most grateful to be publicly reassured that my concerns are misplaced and that consent is not already a "done deal".

DAVID RIMMER, Bevis Green, Bury.