HOW long do residents have to suffer at the hands of drunken and abusive yobs, while the powers-that-be procrastinate?

Take Blackbank Street for example.

The problem here was highlighted in the Bolton Evening News in October 2002, when the report told us how residents lived in fear. In one incident, a concrete block was thrown through the window of the house of a partially-sighted, disabled pensioner.

The pathetic and embarrassing response from the police at the time was, "We are aware that residents of Blackbank Street have been experiencing problems with youths. The area officer is currently attempting to arrange a meeting with residents to establish what can be done to resolve the situation".

Now, almost two years later, the situation remains unresolved. Yobs still make residents' lives a misery, playing loud music into the early hours, smashing windows, damaging cars, urinating on house doors, according to the residents.

Meanwhile, Contour Housing Association say: "While there are issues in the Blackbank Street area, we are working with the police and the local community to deal with them. We hope these issues will be resolved satisfactorily."

But this has been going on for years, for God's sake!

Other reports in the Bolton Evening News tell of vandalism and abuse in Farnworth, Hall i'th' Wood, Tonge Moor, Halliwell, Bromley Cross etc, etc, where smashed windows, theft and abuse are commonplace.

Gillian Hughes, Bolton Council's Anti-Social Behaviour Manager, says: "We will not tolerate what is happening." Why then is anti-social behaviour on the increase?

Our last Chief Supt of Bolton Police, Don Brown, gave me a ticking off for writing letters to the Bolton Evening News. He has moved on.

Maybe our present Chief Supt can tell us what he is doing about Blackbank Street -- and the countless other streets where residents are at their wits end.

Brian Derbyshire

Ribchester Grove

Bolton