I FULLY support the staff of Social Services in their proposed strike on February 7.

It is the only avenue left open to them to demonstrate to the public the intransigent and incompetent type of councillors and officials we have in power.

There have been substantial salary increases for the people in executive positions at the expense of employees who do the actual hands-on work and on whom the public rely.

I speak as a parent of an intellectually disabled person at the Langdale Centre.

I and other parents are seriously disturbed at the turn of events occurring since August last year when it became apparent all was not well with the staffing arrangements and the people we had come to rely upon were no longer there. Over the past few months five vacancies have arisen and we believe that these will not be filled, therefore in effect causing five redundant positions.

We can ill afford any cutback in staffing at this centre where so many vulnerable people rely on the goodwill of the staff.

I must emphasise this remark by saying that never before have we had such dedicated people staffing this centre.

I wrote in November to Coun Bancroft with copies to Mr Pullan, director of social services, and Gordon Marsden MP.

I was not even given the courtesy of an acknowledgement from Messrs Bancroft or Pullan, but Gordon Marsden did send me a letter of encouragement and thanks for my efforts.

I think this is all symptomatic of what is happening to Blackpool generally and there is a movement of dissatisfaction and unrest in the population.

Mrs J Pickard,

Layton Road, Blackpool.