IT is to be hoped the re-elected members of Blackburn Council don't crow too loudly over the latest charade, laughingly called a local election.

Theirs is not a victory in the true sense. It was a result handed to them by the apathy shown by Blackburn's electorate. By not casting their precious vote, the public have given a mandate for many more of the financial fiascos councillors are justly famous for.

They have told them to continue to waste the public money on hair-brained schemes and to continue to fly in the face of public opinion.

When all the recent council cuts were announced - closing old people's homes, etc- I didn't notice the councillors suffering many hardships.

The stay-away voters have given the buffoons another free reign to self destruction.

RAY BUTLER, Denville Road, Blackburn.

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