IT seems that a significant number of the residents in the Accrington Road/Longton Street areas of Blackburn have such a lack of moral and social concern that they find it quite acceptable to dispose of all their unwanted belongings (furniture, mattresses, building rubble etc) by simply throwing them in the back alleyways.

I am heartily sick of living in the midst of this rubbish. What was once a nicely-kept residential area is fast being brought down to the levels of these inconsiderate cretins.

It is about time they realised the error of their ways and showed some neighbourly concern.

After several weeks of being in a disgusting state, only a week or so ago the alley was thoroughly cleaned by the council. Within that space of time, several more loads of junk have been deposited, and the place looks like a tip once again.

I know the council is not to blame for the actions of these thoughtless idiots, but there is certainly a need for more council intervention and a concerted advertising campaign to educate them to the fact that such rubbish will be collected free of charge, provided that the council are made aware.

If this cannot be achieved, then perhaps it is time for the more socially-aware residents to withhold payment of their council taxes, since cleaning of these areas is part of what we are paying for, and as it stands, it seems that cleaning only occurs after complaints by myself, or one of my like-minded neighbours.

M VALENTINE, Accrington Road, Blackburn.

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