COUNCILLOR Dave Smith (Letters, November 18) suggests that I should ask The Riddler to sort out the differences between investments in Blackburn and Darwen. He says that Darwen gets £37million from Blackburn each year, but only contributes £9.5million.

He was replaying to my earlier remarks and, in anticipation of a response, I took clippings from the Lancashire Evening Telegraph for the week up to November 2.

Initiatives in Blackburn over this period were:

A £30-million new business park for B and Q; Blackburn Council in negotiations with Blackburn Rovers planning a railway station at the Rovers stadium costing, I estimate, possibly another £30million; the possibility of the old Blackburn Police Station being turned into a first-class hotel, again costing, in my estimation £30million; the Thwaites Blackburn Red Brick theatre opening at a cost of £450,000; companies in negotiation with the council on the occupation of the Pavilions structures in Church Street -- cost £2million; further £230,000 being found to carry on with the foul-up (sorry, regeneration) of Church Street up to Darwen Street Bridge.

Total investment in Blackburn in one week -- £92,680,000, I reckon.

Coun Smith also mentions that there is an £11million new health centre planned for Darwen -- that is if you are fit enough to be able to get up; to the proposed site.

But the following week it was announced that further investment had been allocated for a new wing at Queen's Park Hospital in Blackburn at a cost of £86 million. Does this not take the £11million that may go to Darwen look like a pittance?

So, no, the Riddler is not needed. The £5million that Coun Smith and Coun Andy Kay keep banging on about that has been spent in Darwen since Blackburn took over us in 1974 looks pretty silly compared to how much is a suggested spend in Blackburn in one week.

All Darweners see this every day and, by the way, which town do you come from Coun Smith?

ROY DAVIES, Olive Lane, Darwen.