AFTER this month's council meeting, the people of Blackburn and Darwen will have to face an above-inflation rise in council tax and, if they live in a council house, a rent rise.

Defending these rises, executive member for finance Councillor Gail Barton, said that they were needed to give people in the borough quality services.

Quality services? What a joke!

For instance, we have escalation of highways liability so Councillor Ashley Whalley cuts £69,000 from the highway maintenace budget.

A task group set up by the coun cil said street lighting helps people feel safe. So Councillor Whalley cuts £38,000 from its budget.

Saying that the Labour group running the council has given the people quality services is as false as saying that Jack Straw has cut crime.

COUN D PEARSON, Rawstorne Street, Blackburn.