One of Mr Khan's alleged victims is a very close friend of mine, a lady in her 60s who was travelling alone in her car from her home to attend a family reunion.

To her horror, she found herself the victim of a vicious attack.

My friend was helped into the nearby Blakey's Locksmiths premises and a police officer arrived to take her statement. During the course of the statement, the police officer was called away to assist with the restraint and subsequent arrest of Mr Khan.

After reading reports in the local press that "hundreds of people took to the streets for a march to protest the death of Mr Nadeem Khan while in police custody" and the list of questions presented to the police by Coun. Wajid Khan, I would like answers to questions of my own:

Has Coun. Khan spoken with the two men who accompanied Naseem Khan?

Has he bothered to speak to Mohammad Aslam, in whose shop Mr Khan tried to take refuge and who subsequently observed at close quarters the "violent struggle" which ensued as the police officers attempted to restrain him and arrest him to prevent any further attacks?

Why was Mr Khan already bleeding copiously as he came down Halifax Road?

At least one of your marchers carried a placard demanding "justice – it's our right"! What about the rights of my friend to go about her business in peace?

I wish to make two further observations. Firstly, I was appalled to read that Kitty Ussher, Burnley's MP, felt it necessary to join the protest march, telling the crowd that she had joined to show solidarity with the community and that she would ensure that their views were represented. I believe that she behaved very irresponsibly in this matter and would have been well advised to endeavour to diffuse the situation by reminding the organisers that the Independent Police Complaints' Commission was conducting a thorough investigation and that the results of toxicology tests may subsequently explain the cause of death. Mrs Ussher is, incidentally, the MP for my friend - will she ensure that her views are represented also?

Secondly, my friend has devoted all her working life to the education of young people in this area, helping students, both English and Asian to achieve their full potential. She deserves to be able to live her life in peace.

"VICTIM SUPPORT"

Make an effort!
I WRITE in response to the many letters of complaint regarding the waste collection system in Pendle.

Those people who say that they create so much waste in two weeks that they fill a wheelie bin really need to take a long hard look at what they are actually consuming, and start to make more effort to reduce the amount of waste they create.

If we all had to dispose of the waste ourselves, we would surely be more inclined to make an effort. Fortunately, we have a collection system, but we should all take a moment to remember that, ultimately, the waste has to be dumped somewhere, and ask ourselves if we really want our country to turn into one big landfill site.

Since the recycling programme has been introduced, I find that I am able to recycle most of my household waste by sorting it into paper, cardboard, glass, cans, compost, garden waste, etc. Any clothing or bric-a-brac goes to the local charity shop, although the introduction of the collection scheme for this will suit those people who aren't able to do this. I am delighted with the scheme and congratulate the council on making it so much easier for everyone to do their bit. When I drive through my local area on recycling day, I am always amazed at the amount of items by the kerbside - items that would have no doubt ended up in landfill in the past.

Taking part in recycling should not be an option. We all have a responsibility to do this – even if we think that we can only contribute in a small way

Regarding the complaints about smelly wheelie bins, people just need to use a bit of common sense. Meat, fish and general food leftovers (those that are not suitable for composting if you have this option) simply need to be wrapped in some newspaper and tied up in a old carrier bag or vegetable bag (as per the ones you get at the supermarket). This will contain any smells, keep the inside of the bin clean and stop flies and maggots from appearing. For a really fragrant bin, after it's been emptied, throw in a couple of buckets of hot water and some soap powder and give it a good swish about. Problem solved. Come on, Pendle people, surely you don't expect someone from the council to come round and do that for you as well?

"MAKING AN EFFORT" Name and address supplied

Roads horror
I HAD to smile after reading about the bollards plan on the Brierfield page of your edition of July 13th.

In this article, Coun. Frank Wren stated that the problem with standing traffic around the Halifax Road/Mansfield Crescent junction, is due to the graveyard on Halifax Road, Brierfield, making the road narrow, acting like a funnel. Coun. Wren and Coun. Naseem Shabnam cannot blame the county council when Brierfield councillors themselves do not understand the geography of their own area! The graveyard on Halifax Road does jut out but not into the road, only the pavement, the road from the Snowball to the Lane Ends being the same width all the way up.

I find it ironic that Couns Wren and Shabnam are such great supporters of the proposed Marsden Heights College being built on Bent Head. They really should take note of the local problems at all times, not just when it suits their purpose!

The roads in this area are horrendous with, as stated, standing traffic at times. Residents with parking problems, even getting to and from their own homes at these times.

Holy Trinity School is in the area – one of the best performing primary schools in the country. What of these five to 11 year olds? What of their needs? The proposed new school would bring a further 1,050 students into this small area and the traffic they would cause.

C. METCALFE Halifax Road, Brierfield

Park work
AS the newly elected chairman of the Friends of Barrowford Park, I have written to Pendle Council's Parks Department with observations and requests for improvements.

These include the painting of the bridge over the river at the park's entrance off Gisburn Road, the removal of graffiti or painting of the shelter and the area around the shelter to be planted up – it is quite barren.

The tarmacadam paths throughout the park are in quite a poor state in places. The planting behind the bowling green could do with more plants and the bindweed covering the existing ones removed. The path around the pond is quite waterlogged and needs attention.

On a more positive note, following the splendid infants' playground, we are due to have the junior play area replaced later this year following consultation with local children through their schools. This will take place after the holidays.

If anyone has any more suggestions for improvements or comments, please get in touch with me.

SUE NIKE Chairman, Friends of Barrowford Park

Council attacked
I AM not surprised that Pendle is nearly the bottom of the league for building new homes. They seem to be the bottom of the league for doing up old boarded-up houses, too, like those in Stanley Street and Albert Street, Nelson, and the rest of the boarded-up homes in Pendle. These could be done up and sold cheaply to first-time buyers or rented out by the council as council homes.

Pendle Council seems to be at the bottom of ever league going - road repairs and highways maintenance, street cleaning, bin emptying, street lighting - the council is in a worse state now than before reorganisation in 1972. Is it not time to stop contracting out all the services and bring them back under the town councils with local council workers?

Donald Jay Percy St, Nelson

NOTE: Road repairs, highway maintenance and street lighting are now the responsibility of Lancashire County Council.

It's a crazy idea
IS Pendle Council going crazy or off its head? I refer to the scrapping of Bent Head Playing Fields and merging Edge End and Mansfield Schools, and the building of the new school on the site.

The decision is unbelievable. There are few open spaces for children to play in Brierfield as it is. Would you rather you endangered their lives playing near roads? It is also used for excellent sports days. We had great times there as children. It must stay.

Have you consulted residents to see what they want? Don't make Brierfield the poor relation once again and don't put children's lives in danger. Bent Head must stay.

Consult the people before you go ahead. They deserve a voice. (They did put you where you are).

This crazy idea must be stopped and stopped now. It's not too late.

ANDREW MURREN Lancaster Court, Newton Heath, Manchester

My good luck!
I TOTALLY agree with Mr Pendle that the belief of many that Fridays dated the 13th likely bring bad luck is drivel. However, leave such people to their beliefs.

Last Friday, because of the "fear factor", I managed to get a hurriedly arranged dental appointment! Thank you. superstition.

K.R. JACKSON Regent Street, Nelson

Speed up on m-way
WITH regard to the use of the M65 by speeding motorists.

How many insist on driving at 40 m.p.h. on the way to Burnley, clogging up the motorway which they see as a dual carriageway to tootle along?
If your average dodderer wants to plod down to Burnley at a snail's pace, please use the A56 via Nelson.

The motorway speed limit is 70 m.p.h. – please drive at 70 m.p.h. or use the bus. Some people have work to get to – be considerate.

N.R. BULLEN Hallam Crescent, Nelson

Full marks
I READ with interest the article by your reporter Stacey Watson on Laneshaw Bridge Primary School's excellent SATs results.

These results are testimony indeed to the year on year improvements seen in all our schools thanks to a Labour Government's record level of investment in education.

This shows that a Labour Government has its priorities right in the area of education policy. Full marks to the Government and, of course, the school.

However, as with many school year-end reports, there often comes a "could do better" comment. In this case, I feel it is the school's failure to provide traditional school dinners, electing instead for convenience, to provide only "picnic-style" lunches.

This is an issue I asked Conservative County Coun. Mike Calvert to raise with the school's governing body last year and one which a number of parents have requested. The official response, that the matter would be kept "under review", I find unacceptable!

As both a parent and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, I feel a traditional "meat and vegetable" meal at lunchtime in this era of "healthy eating" is essential!

Although the school no longer has its own food preparation facility, it could have school dinners delivered in insulated transport or perhaps even purchase meals from a Colne school with spare preparation capacity.
It is essential to get back to meat and vegetable dinners (no chips) on this exposed school site, where it may be some pupils' one chance of such a meal during the week. I do not know of any other school in Pendle where traditional dinners are not provided!

Remember if there is a will to do something, there is always a way!

ALAN J. SHERATON Boulsworth Delegate to Pendle CLP

Lunatic idea
HAVING been dragged back to a normal semi-conscious state the other morning by the familiar tapping of global warming running down the window, my attention was drawn to an item on breakfast television describing the Government's latest lunatic idea to tax unhealthy food for the benefit of our health.

I quickly checked the calendar to find that April 1st had already come and gone along with Comic Relief and the like.

How much taxpayers' money was used in conceiving that gem? What about other similar opportunities like oxygen, light or even congestion charging? You don't have to think too hard to come up with something better like, for instance, subsidising a range of UK grown healthy foods while taxing similar imports, thus helping the grower, consumer and healthcare industry in one go. Cheaper, healthy food might provide the necessary incentive for people to start improving their health while allowing them the choice to have a curry once in a while.

Too obvious, too simple and lacking the two essential elements of any successful policy – tax and a massive bureaucratic machine to create another tier of public servant non-jobs.

JEREMY ASHWORTH Calf Hall Lane, Barnoldswick