I THOUGHT THIS WAS A JOKE

AFTER reading the report on the future plans for Rossendale (‘£750m investment target’, December 14) I had to check the date of the report as the last paragraphs mentioned how well connected the valley is to the A56 and M66. I thought the report was an April 1st joke.

If the council spokesperson lived in Bacup, they would recognise that the infrastructure is woefully inadequate. Bacup is an old market town that has four roads out of it - Burnley, Todmorden, Rochdale and... Rawtenstall.

These four roads are all single carriageways where the slightest hold up can mean it can take over 30 minutes to get to Rawtenstall. That is by your own transport. At best you get three, yes three 464 buses running together, meaning at least two of them are late. At weekends you are lucky if they even turn up so you miss the X43 connection.

Why do we even vote when the council officers are so blind to reality? Rossendale requires on time and unfettered transport links. The buses for Bacup finish at 9pm so you have to get a taxi if you come back from Manchester. From Burnley is the same. Bacup is better connected to Rochdale. Can Rossendale Council sell Bacup to Greater Manchester? P Brown Bacup