I READ with appreciation the letter from J.C. Mellor (Journal Mailbox). However, in Tyldesley we don't need developers to ruin our leisure areas, as some residents do this themselves.

Specifically I refer to the maintained common land which fronts the even numbers of Ellesmere Street. Certain people have used this as their car park. (The land is held in perpetuity - never to be built upon - for the benefit of locals.)

Drivers are too selfish and lazy to park nearby if there is no space outside their own house. The green is now a disgrace and worsened by motorbikes, cyclists and footballers abusing the land.

Recently residents received letters requesting them not to park there. Some have chosen to ignore this, others allow visitors to park.

The area adjoining Common Lane is also affected. A car blocks the access road almost 24 hours daily; vehicles using the back lane simply drive over the grass - including the council refuse wagon. Is it not illegal to block access roads to emergency vehicles?

Lastly, people from surrounding streets use the green as their dog's toilet. It is disgusting to see and a health hazard to children who play there.

Can we shame these people in to treating this land with the respect it deserves?

(Name and address supplied)

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