I do hope Suzanne Elsworth misreported Councillor Gartside in her interview with him on the town's failure to achieve city status.

She reports him as saying "....there's been nothing for the north west. There does seem to be a pattern. I think the north west is one of the most loyal Labour areas in the country and we do wonder if we are taken for granted."

I cannot believe Councillor Gartside said this. Surely no-one can expect an important factor in the award of city status to be a town's loyalty to the Labour party? Or, indeed, to any party.

I hope Ms Elsworth will tell us she got it wrong. And if she can't, perhaps Councillor Gartside can confirm that this is the way things are done under the present government.

L.L.MARTIN,

Dudlow Green Road,

Appleton

Editor's note Clr Gartside was correctly quoted in our report.