I KNOW that I cannot be alone in feeling despair at the incredibly dirty and rubbish-strewn areas in and around Blackburn.

Surely, a new lead has to be given by the local authority, together with the leaders of commerce and industry, in clearing and keeping clean many areas which in their present condition become the standard to be followed in other parts of the borough.

For instance, the Soho Foundry site which is adjacent to a main road to the shopping area, is only one of a number of disgraceful eyesores, with its broken benches and rubbish and litter scattered across the steps and surrounding grounds - all quite incongruous with the nearby ornate litter bin with the words "Welcome to Blackburn" in gold painted letters.

Conditions similar to this can be seen around some "out of town" sites, where, to reach some units, you pass by grassed areas and shrubberies full of litter and on past dumping grounds masquerading as goods loading areas, complete with skips around which are scattered broken pallets, old mattresses and packing materials. Surely, these stores should realise that their outward appearances reflect their images as responsible traders. Or do they have the narrow view that it is not their job to keep their grounds clean and tidy, or are their own standards such that if the conditions were pointed out, they would blankly say "what rubbish are you talking about?"

I cannot see why the local authority should not take responsibility for insisting that those who trade from these sites should be charged with the task of keeping them in a condition acceptable to the authority.

This should also apply to those who own empty premises which are for lease or sale, for they should not allow them to deteriorate and gather rubbish without restriction and become eyesores in prime areas of the town.

Lack of finance is the usual justification given for the state of affairs, but if nothing is done to alter the situation, then caring stores, businesses and residents will move out of the area and leave Blackburn to vanish beneath its dereliction and rubbish.

The authority must create a climate and perhaps area consortiums of business people and property owners to lead a structured drive to turn things around and put some pride back to justify the claim to city status.

KENNETH BROWN, Mayfair Crescent, Wilpshire, Blackburn.

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