I HAVE been made aware that in another cost-cutting exercise, Bury Council decided in April that the free emergency service provided by the environmental health department was to be withdrawn.

The case that I have in mind is that of a pensioner, who lives alone, being invaded by wasps which had nested in the eves of her house. She was advised to contact the council, which she did.

A council employee came, sprayed the eves and solved the problem. The householder was then told that the charge would be £36, payable right away as invoices are too costly.

I do not blame the environmental health officer as he was carrying out the orders of the council: in fact, it must have been an embarrassment to have to ask an elderly person for half their weekly pension for an emergency service, bearing in mind that wasps were invading every room of the house.

When next the members of the council partake of their tea and biscuits, use their concessionary parking permits, or their showers at the town hall, or receive their expenses of office - none of which I begrudge them - I would like them to reflect on whether or not they got their priorities wrong when they made that decision in April.

A. WITHINGTON,

Wellington Road, Bury.

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