+WITH reference to the letter in the Bolton Evening News (July 4) regarding the closure of the alleyway at Thomas Court, Bromley Cross, Bolton.

As a resident of Thomas Court, and Bromley Cross for the past 20 years, I would like to make the following points:

Firstly, all the people complaining must have very short memories. It's not long ago that the flats were an embarrassment to the area, very run down and severely affecting the area and the value of the houses close by. In addition, there have always been problems with schoolchildren hanging around the alleyway -- smoking, drinking and generally causing a nuisance.

Can these residents who are complaining really expect us to believe that they happily walked past gangs of kids hanging round in the dark? I don't think so.

Litter, general mess, and other substances were left lying around for the residents to have to cope with. This not only affected the standard of living in the area but had a huge negative effect on the value of nearby properties.

Yes, the Flitcroft brothers have been brought up locally and, as such, have vastly improved the area. I live in one of these flats and they are a credit to them.

It is in everyone's interest to keep this area to the standard we are currently enjoying. To open up the alleyway would just attract gangs back to the area. We only need to look at the gangs outside the Co-Op every evening to see how many we would be talking about.

I have recently had a conversation with a representative of the company who told me that they had offered to open the alleyway from 9am to 3.30pm every day, thus ensuring that residents needing access to the shops had it.

I cannot see what all the fuss is about.

Instead of knocking someone who has tried to improve the area, let's congratulate him on providing homes that are attracting people to the area, who will look after the property they live in and respect the area in which they are living.

That is what people around here should be thinking about!

P Berry

Bromley Cross

Bolton