MY "friend" (Name and address supplied) fails to understand the reason why I, and others write to the local press.

Ask people if they knew about proposals to build houses on the Castle Street site before the row erupted in the Guardian and the vast majority would say "No".

The proposals concerning the site at Lostock are now getting the decent hearing they deserve thanks to letters from concerned locals to the Guardian.

The fact is that if one person speaks to a local councillor, or someone in a similar position of power and influence, the chances are they will be ignored, albeit politely. If that person has the backing of many, all of a sudden their voice is heard and a quick and easy way to get that backing is to write to your local paper.

Even my "bragging" letter about Witton Albion was an attempt to whip up a bit more support for the club, and boy do they need it!

Councillors have difficult jobs to do, and in many cases, as with the problem with the traffic flow in and around Northwich, I have every sympathy with them as there are no easy answers. That is not to say I will not have a go at them if I think they are wrong and allow public opinion to decide who is in the right, by writing to the local press.

Finally, to my "friend" you obviously read my letters, even if at times you miss my point, WHY? and what are you afraid of by withholding your name? Not me surely, I am 5ft 6ins tall, overweight, wear glasses and am 52-years-old! I promise, I only do my fighting with my pen, after all, it is mightier than the sword.

A Lowe,

Melchett Crescent, Rudheath.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.