I SHOULD have thought the people of Darwen would be pleased and excited at the prospect of brand new sporting facilities.

Oh no, the spreaders of doom and rumours come out of their parlours to complain and worry, one in particular late off the mark as usual.

Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth.

We are to get more or less the same facilities as before, based on two sites no more than brisk 20-minute walk apart.

But that's not good enough for the moaners. Why? Because it's not the same as it's always been.

Ok, in a perfect world, a one-site facility on the site of the current leisure centre would be great, but there is a health centre on what used to be leisure centre land so that is out of the question.

Again, in a perfect world one would pick a new site to build a leisure centre and keep the old one open until the new one is ready.

Would the unhappy brigade be happy to fork out the extra cost by paying more council tax?

There are residents and councillors who are giving opinions, wishing to petition the nation and ready to organise vigils on the steps of the leisure centre.

Some protesters don't appear to know the true facts.

One constant gripe is that we don't need an Olympic size swimming pool, some people think there is going to be a 50-metre pool.

Good news there then - it will only be 25 metres, the basic requirement.

Would protesters prefer a 25-yard pool on the basis that's what we have always had?

Another gripe is "no gym" - oh yes there is - look at the plan.

What about the argument there is nothing wrong with the old centre, we don't need a new one?

Just fix the hole in the pool (may I recommend silicone sealer, it cures all manner of problems), we will be okay for another 100 years.

The people who subscribed to this theory should talk to others who use the facilities regularly.

Let me tell Blackburn with Darwen Council that some of your residents do support you and are happy with your proposals, but please do not let us down.

There are reasons for the apparent lack of trust in you; let's not have the doubters telling us I told you so.

GED JOHNSON, Darwen (via email).