WHAT sort of people live in this town?

Small-minded, overawed by officialdom, and short of vision I would suggest, judging from personal experience.

It appears impossible for them to rid themselves of the belief that the council "owns" the town when a little clear thought would show them that the council consists of 48 councillors, on temporary appointment, none of whom has bought a share of the borough, so cannot be its owner.

Nobody can recall or give me any figures for any vote on selling parts of the town to housing associations or companies who are rarely satisfied with the purchase and wish to expand, regardless of the residents' needs.

Yet the residents knuckle down to town hall workers who are, in fact, their employees, paid by those same residents (even though some of the said workers are so lacking in perception as to believe that the department in which they work pays them). The residents tamely troop along to meetings of groups, basking in titles such as Steering Groups, where a lot of talk takes place, most from the "official" side.

Invariably it is of the "At this moment in time, we are looking at putting in place a package of measures" type, which really means: We will decide in our offices what we do with your money and your town, then push it through as a fait accompli.

In days gone by the mill owners were despots and dictators, with skilled workers so afraid they would run and hide in fear.

Is this now to be the reaction of local people to town hall staff?

A few residents, dazzled by being on close terms with town hall staff, will always support any half-backed scheme, wordily delivered. One such half-baked idea recently suggested voting-off a committee anyone who did not agree with them . . . a wonderful example of democracy!

Residents of this borough, you must get up off your knees and reclaim your property. Demand the end to the selling-off of your housing. Insist your employees in the town hall get on with the job you pay them for, rather than working with private, profit-making, concerns.

R. MILES,

Teak Street, Bury.