REGARDING your report (LET, March 21), on the proposed changes to the way Blackburn with Darwen is run -- from its present sensible method of the press and public being present at committee meetings to a cabinet system with the press and public excluded -- Labour councillors not in the exclusive clique, will also have no part in decision-making.

But, as a sop to conscience, they will be allowed to ask questions and make comments on the decisions taken.

I found the most disturbing feature of your report was the exclusion of the press from hearings and reporting on major decision on running Blackburn with Darwen.

The press is a safeguard for both the council and the electorate. The press can only report what has been said at the meeting and if the council is not satisfied, they can refute the report.

This new method will start rumours and suspicion of malpractice and even if refuted, the public will not believe it.

Democracy thrives on intelligent and reasoned argument in open forum. These are the hallmarks of a free society.

JOHN EDDLESTON, Brownhill Road, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.