COUNCILLOR Noel Spencer has been in the news a lot recently as more council houses face the bulldozer, and more blocks of flats are decommissioned and likely to be handed over to housing associations, as I predicted.

Cllr Spencer tells us time and time again that people do not want to live in certain areas and, consequently, there are many void properties in those areas. But the councillor never tells us why.

Could it be because the dwellings are not up to standard? I don't think so. The recently demolished properties in De Lacey Drive were perfectly good and recently refurbished. The houses in Breightmet are apparently ditto. And what about the flats around Commission Street?

So, if the dwellings are fine, why won't people live in them? Perhaps the areas are not nice places to live in? I don't think so. If that was the case, why are housing associations and property developers willing to take over the properties, or build new ones on the bulldozed sites?

Of course we all know why people shun certain areas and properties. It is because of a small minority of tenants, perhaps last described as undesirable neighbours, who the council allow to live in their dwellings.

Has the councillor seen some of the gardens? And what about the insides? Council employees who sometimes have to visit these homes tell me they have to wipe their feet on the way out!

Walk round the estates, listen to the loud music coming from properties where the tenants obviously care little about their neighbours. Would the councillor live next door, or in the next street, to people like this?

Yes, councillor, you tell us that you care about council dwellings and your long-standing -- or should that be long-suffering -- tenants. Prove it! Sort out the real problems!

Brian Derbyshire

Ribchester Grove

Bolton