WITH reference to the letter (February 11) from a Mrs Burbage, concerning Borron Road, I too am an ex-resident of that area and I endorse all her comments.

A nicer neighbourhood could not have been found up to some eight or nine years ago. Then, the first 'imports' arrived and soon waist-high weeds covered the gardens that once were. Schoolchildren could be seen queueing at one or two particular doors - and it wasn't for sweets!

Characters who would put tramps to shame squat smoking and drinking on the crumbling walls - I nearly said garden walls! - while others tinker with old bangers on the road and have dogs and kids in abundance, all - or most of them - enjoying leisure, courtesy of the Social.

You may wonder how the police and council can let this go on, well, our Liberal Democrat ones are a voice in wilderness in the council chamber and the Labour members are too afraid to stand up for Newton in case they are de-selected.

This is merely one more example of total disregard of the welfare in this area and surely the time has come to hold a referendum and demand a return to our own town council. We have a building called the town hall, let's put it to the use for which it was intended before it also starts to crumble, like our town itself, from sheer neglect.

Pensioner, ex Fairbrother Estate, Newton (name and address supplied).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.