WELL it looks like I hit the nail right on the head with a reply of a sort coming from Cllrs Linda Thomas and Cliff Morris -- high praise indeed!

As usual, the "reply", in true political fashion, goes all round the houses and avoids the initial issues.

The current private housing renting problems in Halliwell will not go away and must be dealt with by "working together" and not burying our heads in the sand. So we will try again.

How do they (the council) justify paying a landlord £296 per four weeks' rent for a two-up two-down property? And how does this rent compare to the rent of a three-bedroom semi-detached council house? Are they prepared to limit the number of these properties? And how many are there currently?

Have the council considered buying these properties to save money in the long run? Are they prepared to vet the people they move into these properties?

I have nothing against the decent people who are living in these properties, my argument is with the number of them, and the amount of rent being paid for them. If this rent was a more realistic figure, in line with a current mortgage in the area of say £200 per month, or the amount the council paid was capped at £200, we could all have a decent reduction in our Council Tax, or an improvement in local services.

I am informed that CCTV has been installed on Chorley Old Road. I have searched the local black spots, cash machines, phone boxes etc, but am unable to spot them or the "visible community policemen". However, I am sure we will soon be hearing of their success in combating the escalating mugging and burglary in the area.

Ironic, however, that there was no need for such deterrents until a few years ago.

I am asked by the gallant duo if I attended the recent openings of Oxford Grove School and The Sure Start Centre. Well, unfortunately, I did not, I was at work and I did not know it was mandatory. My wife did attend, though, if that counts.

The School, as we all know, was old and had been in a state beyond economical repair for years, so a big thank you to all concerned, at all levels!

The Sure Start Centre, I am informed, is there to help struggling young families or young single mothers bring up their children. Well, if there's enough of these households in the area, it must be warranted, and only good can come from such a project. I back it wholeheartedly, but questions must be asked about the positioning of the car park and for reasons why the Centre is lit up all night? I did notice that there is CCTV installed around the perimeter of the Centre with the cameras facing the Centre. I wonder if there are any plans to add a few cameras facing out to protect the surrounding streets?

As for it not being about time I joined one of the many groups or associations they promote in the area, I am sorry, but, to a lot of us, every day is not a Sunday. If they seek the genuine views of the Council Tax Payee who fund these many groups, they should either knock on our doors and ask for them, or add a questionnaire to one of the many leaflets posted through it.

How much money is allocated to these groups?

Finally, having lived in this area for more than 40 years, 20 years until this year as a Labour voter, I regard my opinions not as "cynical opposition", as described by our Overlords out in Westhoughton and Ladybridge, but more of an accurate account of the facts of life as I know and live it.

I am also well aware of the number of good, hard-working people still left in the area, just as they should be, come the next election!.

Fed up Chorley Old Road resident

(Name and address supplied)