WHILE I admire and support the drive for a massive clean-up in Blackburn and Darwen (LET, May 21) it is not before time and long overdue.

Council leader Bill Taylor proffers much in his statements on this clean-up, but it is high time that he and his colleagues on the council's executive body had some words to utter in the ears of the managers of the departments concerned.

For I and many others in the Bank Top area of Blackburn have constantly complained to several of them only to find this to be an utter waste of phone money as nothing is done to rectify such complaints.

Mohammed Khan, the executive member for housing, etc., should be ashamed, for he lived in this area of squalor for many years without such efforts that are now hopefully being put into place being employed.

However, this really is no surprise to anyone in the Bank Top Ward for none of our three councillors live within it.

The town-centre wardens your report mentioned would be far better employed within areas such as ours where the real culprits live.

It is not too long ago that the local Conservatives proposed such schemes in all wards but the executive turned them down without a second thought.

P NEWTON (Mr) (Chairman of the former Bank Top Community Association), Ashworth Close, Blackburn.