DEGENERATION is the only way to describe what is happening to Blackburn.

The town centre is dirty and uninviting, closed shops and empty market stalls are evidence of a town which has lot its way.

Traders struggle to pay high rents and the number of shoppers continues to fall, making it more difficult to keep going.

Roads are all reduced to one lane, causing traffic tailbacks. If you were taken ill, the ambulance would be stuck in traffic.

Perhaps bus lanes would help public transport and emergency vehicles, but that would take commonsense.

On the subject of public transport, it has been decided to sell off another piece of our history. Blackburn Transport is to be sold to a company which will be more interested in profit than service to the public. Many services which run at a loss will be under threat.

Blackburn Transport has survived for 125 years and withstood competition from several rival operators, but it is again making money, the council decides to sell it so shareholders and not the people of Blackburn with Darwen will benefit from profits.

What hope is there for the rest of Blackburn with Darwen being regenerated if the council is unable to successfully run Blackburn Transport, which has a turnover of over £6.2million and is making enough profit to meet all the investment requirements for the foreseeable future?

MR J COWLING, address supplied.