I AM outraged that council staff have received shopping vouchers for large multiples (LET, January 28).
The fact that Blackburn with Darwen Council is rewarding the staff's hard work is laudable and a practice often used by good employers. But why has the council not seen fit to include any local independent retailers?
Blackburn and Darwen have a large number of independent retailers who sell their own vouchers and yet not one of these is included in the council's list of voucher providers. The list is entirely made up of national and 'PLC' stores which enables the recipient to spend them in almost any town in Britain.
Why is the council ignoring local businesses which contribute, both directly and indirectly, so much to the local economy? The vouchers, given to the hard-working employees are a kick in the teeth to all local business people who provide a service often far superior to any national company and by their very existence, making shopping in Blackburn and Darwen unique.
PAULINE VAUGHAN, Higher Church Street, Blackburn.
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