Opinion

They had turned to the Keighley News is a desperate plea for action after being frustrated by the lack of action.

They told how they lived in fear, tormented by children as young as nine. They were so terrified they didn't want the complex identified or their names given. We said it was time to stop talking and do whatever was needed to be done to return peace to the lives of those in their twlight years.

Now, eight months later, a number of residents are preparing to flee their warm,comfortable homes - unable to cope any longer with the daily tirade of abuse and nuisance.

They say they have even stopped reporting incidents to the police or the housing association which runs the complex because the say 'they never do anything'.

Why, oh why, has such an appalling situation been allowed to develop? It may well be there is no easy answer.

But once again the association's response leaves a lot to be desired. The association says its main problem is that the complex is bordered by a densely populated area with no recreational facilities. The complex has a car park and a grassed area in front of it which has become a magnet for gangs of youths. It also comments that anti-social behaviour tends to increase during school holidays. The association welcomes any ideas and suggestions from its tenants on how to deal with the situation.

Here is one from us. Get your fingers out and start taking positive action instead of waffling on.

A private action against the louts incurring financial penalties for their parents wouldn't be a bad start. Making use of CCTV would be another. Security patrols with a couple of big dogs would soon scatter these cowardly louts. A face to face meeting between the vandals and residents could work wonders.

Actions speak louder than words.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.