I SAW nothing to cheer about in the explanation (Letters, November 3) from our three councillors why Wensley Fold Ward in Blackburn received less priority than others.

We are heading for the 21st century and they are boasting about heating systems finally reaching the Ashworth Estate.

Well done! The lack of double glazing will ensure the streets won't need gritting for some time, but any improvement, however small, must be welcomed.

Was the lack of City Challenge money to blame for the filthy streets which our three councillors did nothing to improve? No, the vocal minority gets the streets cleaned.

The vocal minority is getting the land on Palatine Road sorted that we've put up with for 12 years. Groundwork is now involved in this.

As for not opening my mouth when the boundary for City Challenge money was drawn up, had I known how much the value of my property would have dropped -- some £7,000 in the last few years -- I would have become one of the vocal minority sooner.

The last time Councillor Don Rishton visited here was last January. Councillors Khan and Hollern have been once. They came about my council tax for which my house was valued at more than £41,000.

A house on our road -- a modern town house with a 78 feet south facing garden -- is on the market at a reduced price of £32,900.

During the past two years, since I became one of the vocal minority, our councillors have shown no interest in the area.

Councillor Khan shrugged his shoulders and said his area was as bad.

Kate Hollern lives in Darwen and seems to have lost all interest in the area.

Don Rishton, after a year of my writing to Your Letters, came up last January and got some of the mess cleared up, but it's now as bad as ever.

Would our three councillors care to visit Bank Top again as I don't consider once a year sufficient?

Blackburn with Darwen councillors do at last seem to be realising the problems.

Many of them tell us to put up or shut up.

They seem to have managed to do both.

SAM SPENCE, Ribblesdale Place, Blackburn.

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