MR P Barry (Letters to the Editor, March 25) asks the valid question why I and colleagues have recently become vocal about the "yob" element making peoples' lives miserable.

Quite simply, it is because we had 18 years of a Tory Government talking a good story but watching the problem get worse. Jack Straw (the Home Secretary) has spent three years listening and then legislating. The measures which I outlined at the recent council meeting became available to the police and the local authority from April 1.

I was merely seeking (and received) a pledge from the Leader of the Council that we would take advantage of the powers available to us to challenge this menace. Mr Barry's suggestions, however, are very useful and will be looked at closely.

I also agree with the young people of Oxford Grove that the vast majority of young people are decent citizens who would rather do someone a good turn than a bad one. Unfortunately, the tiny minority are really ruining people's lives and it is towards this minority that our efforts must be directed.

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne

Halliwell Ward

Chair of the Labour

Group, Bolton Council

9 Nuttall Avenue

Horwich, BL6 5RA

Tel 468570

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.