SOME weeks ago my letter was printed in The Citizen. I criticised a new political group formed in Blackpool and also gave my opinion that Blackpool had improved under the leadership of Ivan Taylor and George Bancroft.

There were several letters the following week which disagreed with me. One particularly aggressive letter was from Peter Roscoe. I did not reply immediately, deciding instead to conduct my own survey among holidaymakers that I would be meeting over the following few weeks due to business.

Since then I have asked tourists who have visited Blackpool previously whether they noticed a difference in the town over the past few years.

So my question only applied to the following group: people with some past knowledge of Blackpool. Many were very regular visitors, others once every two or three years. Three of the families were actually ex-residents of Blackpool. Everyone agreed that the town had altered for the better. All mentioned the town centre. They liked the pedestrian-friendly alterations, the trees, the new seating etc. The promenade lighting was described many times as being superb.

Also the South Promenade sea wall, with its landscaping, was considered a big improvement. The new pavements with wheelchair-friendly edges met with approval. Those who had read the plans to create a large all-weather shopping centre thought it would be attractive to visitors and locals alike.

Those Blackpool knockers do not know how lucky they are to live here. It is not perfect but neither is anywhere else.

I agree with those comments. It must be obvious to fair-minded readers that Blackpool MUST have a great deal to offer. The town still does fantastic business despite the attraction of cheap air travel to sunnier resorts. Blackpool has more than its fair share of whingers. I suspect much of it must be politically motivated.

Peter Crossley, address supplied