MAY I congratulate Blackburn with Darwen Council's housing officers on their professionalism?

When I moved in to my home five years ago, I was vetted first to see if I was a suitable applicant to live in the flats.

There was a good community spirit; everyone looked after one another. But as decent residents either left or died, the housing officers, to keep the quota and figures up to scratch, started putting in drug addicts, young single girls with small children and young lads - none of whom was paying rent or council tax.

After numerous visits by the police, council workers etc, all the decent tenants are leaving or have moved out. Four of the flats are boarded up.

I shall be moving myself shortly. That is a shame - because I am the only wage earner in the block and the only one who pays his own rent.

M J HAWTREY, Ellenshaw Close, Darwen.

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