IT was interesting to read Coun John Byrne's comments last week regarding area boards. He never fails to shock.

In my opinion, one thing readers must know by now about the former Labour leader is that he is consistent; he is tactless and it is disgraceful how he so often insults the people of Bury.

He rambles on in last week's article that "the meetings are often about people trying to get a cheap headline (that's rich!) or asking the same trivial questions; someone asking about one lamp out on their street". He continues: "There are some sad people, including councillors, who turn up at them all".

First, as a member of the ruling group's executive and the portfolio holder for the environment, I would have thought that he would not attempt to trivialise complaints from the public . . . you know those people who pay their council tax.

And I would remind him that all councillors, even those in their ivory towers, have a duty to resolve issues, especially those that would obviously make an area safer.

As for attendance by councillors at area boards, I think he has well and truly lost the plot. We, as elected members, are all expected to attend our respective meetings.

It is part of our basic duty and failure to do so would affect our attendance records.

The present leader of the council, Wayne Campbell adds: "People are not speaking out and are frightened of getting involved".

This may indeed be the case in Radcliffe and Bury East, but I can assure you that in Rambsottom, Tottington and North Manor wards, the public are speaking without fear and are more than keen to be involved in improving their communities. Indeed, 70 members of the public attended our last meeting, whereas, by contrast, only 22 attended Bury East and 30 at Radcliffe area boards. I wonder why it is that residents are frightened' to raise issues. It could be the fear of being publicly humiliated.

As all local politicians should be keen to successfully engage with the electorate, I hope that Couns Byrne and Campbell are interested in the views of a Bury resident who took the trouble to email me within minutes of arriving home after the last area board meeting of Ramsbottom, Tottington and North Manor.

The email read: "Having just attended the meeting, I felt it important to pass on my thanks to yourself and the committee for a very positive feel to the meeting. Having not been involved with anything like this previously, I and others who attended were very impressed by the obvious support you all show to the local community. Seeing local people have a real voice and their concerns really addressed was such an eye-opener."

It is my understanding that area boards were introduced seven years ago to effectively engage with the public. By Couns Byrne and Campbell's own admission, they are clearly more successful in some areas than others.

The way forward is surely to attempt to improve on what we have at present and not to change it on a whim. Finally, I don't suppose the proposed changes are remotely to do with the fact that the ruling Labour-controlled council are the majority on just two of the six area boards?

COUNCILLOR YVONNE WRIGHT Chairman, Ramsbottom, Tottington and North Manor area board