PREDICTABLY, after Adrian Shurmer's election as a Great Harwood councillor comes the sour grapes and innuendo from the defeated that he is a closet Conservative and persecutor of the defeated.

Predictably, here is a letter of support for Mr Shurmer.

Labour were voted out because too many had lost confidence in their leadership and potty policies. That is why their leader was ousted.

The Conservatives were elected in protest, not because they are any better. I do not recall them saying anything before the council election, let alone doing anything. Do you?

The only 'person' to be elected in Hyndburn was Adrian Shurmer. The rest were elected on the same old meaningless, party political drivel that appears at every election and largely counts for nothing.

Mr Shurmer cares very much for his town and has the guts and presence to stand up to be heard. It is a great pity that there are not more like him who will cast aside petty party politics for the good of our community.

He has an uphill task before him, not least of persuading the autocratic council executive to work for the taxpayers - rather than themselves.

I have every confidence that Adrian will be unaffected by the bleatings of political bigots and will only do what he believes to be right and in the interests of the people of Great Harwood.

PHILIP CONGDON, Hindle Fold Lane, Great Harwood.

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