COULD someone on our demolition council please explain what is happening to our housing stock? Over the past few years we have seen houses of 29 years old being demolished. Houses in Park Road were demolished a few years ago - why? - when houses were not 80 yards away, which were 100 years old and still occupied, had been left standing!

Was it because, by demolishing these comparatively new homes, a large tract of land was left open to redevelopment? If so, who stands to benefit from this decision?

The latest demolition job is currently being carried out on the Newton Road, Parr Mount Avenue and Waring Avenue estates. The houses on these estates are currently being systematically knocked down - why? It seems wrong to me that these homes, which were built in fairly recent times on productive farm land, are deemed to be of no further use.

Surely there are people who would be only too willing to rent or buy these properties, all of which are bordering the green belt area separating St Helens from Burtonwood and offering at least a glimpse of the few blades of grass left on the eastern side of Parr. Once these areas have been cleared, what do the council have in mind to replace the demolished homes?

My concern is that the original borrowing by the council to finance the initial cost of these houses is still outstanding and that the ratepayers of St Helens may end up in a situation where they will be expected to finance the cost of new developments whilst still paying off the original debt.

There are many people in St Helens who cannot understand what is happening in our town when comparatively new properties are being knocked down in this manner. I asked the same question just before the last General Election expecting that at least one of our political parties would show some interest in the concerns of the residents of St Helens but no reply was forthcoming.

R Waring, Moore Drive, Haydock.