ST HELENS First... why do we need an expensive, glossy community magazine? As far as I'm aware this is paid for out of our council tax so how come in the last issue we received a 'free pen' (something else we've paid for no doubt)?

What a waste of council tax payer's money. I'm sure the information it contains could be put into your newspaper as a supplement at a fraction of the cost.

In fact most of the items in it are probably covered by yourselves anyway.

Also in the last edition - with free pen - there was no one picture of our Mayor Betty Lowe, who has always been a tireless and honest worker, but lo and behold SIX pictures of Marie Rimmer.

If I were a Labour councillor I would be keeping a very low profile since our town is a mere shadow of its former respectable self, no matter what the council tells us. Most people I know will go to Wigan, Warrington, Ormskirk or anywhere rather than shop or spend an evening in St Helens dodging the foul mouthed, drunks and the fights.

I would add that I have been an old-school Labour voter in general elections all of my adult life, so have no political axe to grind.

I would also add that I have been in contact with the Town Hall but have not had the courtesy of a reply.

Via your splendid community newspaper it would be interesting to know if it is just me who is concerned and irritated beyond belief at the way our town is being led.

Let's get the basics right and stop wasting money.

DISILLUSIONED, Rainford (name and address supplied).

WHAT do other Star readers feel about the strong points made by this writer?