REGARDING the letter (Monday, October 7) concerning Holmswood Road area, Great Lever, the writer is absolutely correct.

The decline of this once desirable area over the last couple of years is a disgrace and it isn't just the council estate that is suffering, the private houses in the area are suffering too.

What was once a respectable area to live and raise a family in is being dragged down by the low-life who are being moved into property by the council, or when they get evicted they can then, courtesy of the DHSS, move into the private accommodation which is owned by some landlords who couldn't care less what the tenants are like, or what they get up to, just as long as they get the rent.

They don't care about the people who have worked and saved to buy their houses and keep them well maintained; people who have raised their children to be decent, honest and hard-working. No, we have to put up with drug addicts, prostitutes, and the local yobs who visit these properties and will steal or trash anything before they will do an honest day's work. And what is being done to stop the area declining? Nothing -- landlords, councillors etc don't want to know.

There is nothing wrong with the area or the property, it's just a pity they can't find decent people to put in the property.

When rubbish builds up outside a house, who moves it? The council don't, the Environmental Health don't, even though rats have been seen. Apparently it's not bad enough. Do we need a plague before someone springs into action, or are we waiting for November 5?

Mr Oakes, the new headmaster at Hayward School, seems to be doing his bit keeping the pupils in line. It's a pity the local councillors can't do the same, after all we are taxpayers and council tax payers, we should be able to go to bed without wondering what will happen to our property during the night.

Do any of the councillors care about our area, or do they only care when election day is nearing?

Yet another angry

home owner

(Name and address supplied)