I SUPPOSE that I should have reacted with amazement and disbelief when I read the lead story in the Guardian on January 6, regarding the importation of sandstone and granite from China to help landscape the large plot of land adjacent to the Town Bridge.

I will refrain from calling it a park as it is obviously there only as a location to park the bridge should it again have to be lifted for repair and maintenance.

No purchase price was mentioned in the report, only that the officer in charge, Mr Thornhill, stated that the stone and rocks were available and that the price is probably half that of purchasing the materials from a UK source. Are they to be imported at a cost which includes freight and delivery to site?

Neither is there any mention of quality nor quantity but it seems that substantial quantities will be purchased, to quibble about price, and then ordered from such an exotic location. But there again didn't the plot itself cost Vale Royal Borough Council about £500,000, so obviously the planned vision will be wonderful to behold.

Clr Lawrenson, chairman of the Northwich Area Working Group seems proud to state that the borough council operates as a 'Best Value Council' and has to procure the materials at a cheapest price even if having to source from abroad. Yes, we all remember rock salt for mid Cheshire roads being purchased from Italy! Of course everything comes at a price. This price includes the loss of work for British workers and the export of British funds to pay for the order.

The UK balance of payments is affected and we already have a large deficit balance of payment with China. It can be said that this order is really miniscule but every little helps to swell the total sum and affects our exchange rates.

And are we purchasing on comparable grounds? Britain loses out in this respect. It is well known that, for various reasons, Far East wage rates are lower than in the UK and working hours are much longer. It is not uncommon for some countries/companies (even in the UK) to adjust prices to obtain contracts from overseas.

The words of Clr Lawrenson 'that the auditors would have a field day if we were found to be using more of the Council Tax payers money, just to be patriotic', may come back to haunt him.

He should fear most the backlash of voters, proud to be British, who purchase British made products wherever possible, and who pay national and local taxes, who may have voted for him and his party, and who pay his expenses and the wages and salaries of Vale Royal Borough Council employees as well as the salaries of those employees at the National Audit Office.

Readers may feel that I am being flippant in my remarks and comments but I am seriously concerned that this action is being taken when, as recently reported, production by manufacturing industry in Britain will stagnate in 2003. Utilities, service and leisure will grow slightly. With a large imbalance between these two sectors and other economic problems there could well be an implosion in the country's economy.

We will have nothing to put in the 'China' cabinet then.

DENIS CAIN

Highbank Road

Greenbank