WITH regards to your article entitled 'Bridge Refurbishment Branded a Disgrace' in which you reported that the Chairman of the planning committee, Cllr, Chris Thorley had 'lambasted' the developers for the state of the refurbished and re-opened Flag Lane bridge. Surely someone from Cllr Thorley's planning department should have been inspecting the work as it progressed.

Cllr Thorley also comments about the inconvenience caused during the work on Flag Lane bridge but with work such as this some inconvenience is inevitable and therefore must be accepted.

I respectfully draw your attention to a report dated April 1999, entitled 'Inspectors Rapped For Backing Shop Alterations' in which Cllr Thorley, again as Chairman of Planning, stated that these developers have shown an arrogant disregard for the heritage of our town, he then goes on to say that he is extremely annoyed. A piece of Crewe's heritage has been lost forever and that he feels it was an act of vandalism.

The town has lost its heritage, the Old Works, the L&NWR General Offices, the Joiners Shop and now most of the Steelworks, (and we are left with a supermarket that was not really required), Bedford Street School, Helmsville, the Chetwode, West Street School, a town centre that had character and not a boarded up shop in sight, was alive after shops had closed for the day, not like the ghost town it is today.

We have lost a busy Hightown and West Street, we have got a pair of wheels and a pile of pigeon excrement. It makes one wonder what Cllr Chris and his colleagues will come up with for the proposed new Bus Station.

With Cllr Thorley's expressions of concern over the town's heritage, could I suggest that the next time you interview him that you ask him the following questions:

1 Why did he and his council ignore the 150th anniversary of the London North Western Railway Company in 1996?

2 Why has the town no Museum?

3 How many Civic visits have there been to the Crewe Heritage Centre, apart from the official opening in 1987, and did he visit the centre during his Mayoral term?

Crewe's heritage is at Widnes and York, when it's rightful place is Crewe. Unfortunately, Crewe has become a 'Town of Lost Opportunities'.

PH Jones

Capesthorne Road

Crewe