IN attempting to defend his son's earlier comments on car parking in Blackburn town centre, it appears that Councillor Ron O'Keeffe (Snr.) (Letters, January 4) has missed the main issue raised by your previous correspondent, Mrs Janet Lockley.

While I agree with Coun O'Keeffe that it is desirable that anyone living reasonably near the centre does walk or use public transport, Mrs Lockley made it quite clear that, after having been previously attacked, she does not feel safe to do so in the area. Personal safety in Blackburn town centre is a very real issue for many people, particularly women.

To fail to recognise how vulnerable females and others feel in this area does all women a very great disservice and shows how out of touch with reality Coun O'Keeffe is.

Remember, Councillor, that if you think more people should walk -- and I agree wholeheartedly with you here -- women in particular need to feel safe. This means fewer 'down and outs' on street corners begging for money, fewer drunks wobbling all over our main streets and fewer teenage thugs hiding behind every tree. Safety can also be achieved by more police walking around the area -- the sooner we get our street wardens the better.

PAULINE VAUGHAN, Higher Church Street, Blackburn.