I WAS privileged to attend a recent meeting of residents at Woodbank Primary School to listen to the circumstances that people in this area have to contend with. At the same time I witnessed the police offering neither defence nor crumbs of comfort.

Day and night the residents of Woodhill have to contend with abuse, damage to property, threatening behaviour, drink, drug dealing from the backs of cars, and women being attacked. And all they hear from the police is that they are undermanned, cannot cope and that criticism is unhelpful.

So why are we paying our council taxes? Are the residents of Bury not entitled to some degree of protection from the thugs that pile on the misery without any deterrent from the law?

This meeting left me cold, particularly the apathy shown towards the residents. Lip-service does not get results: actions do!

I read with interest in the Sunday Telegraph an article about an experiment being carried out in Bradford, West Yorkshire, which seems to be enjoying some success.

The Home Office-backed pilot project is called "Safer Areas for Everyone" (SAFE) and it recruits mothers, aunts and grandmas who challenge drug dealers, return truanting pupils and help out with graffiti and vandalism. These women are unpaid volunteers, do not wear uniforms and have no more power than any other resident, although the police offer full support and are in constant contact. The 50-strong group have been trained in self-defence and are well equipped for most occurrences. The project has been given £11,000 to train up to 55 women who are then issued with mobile phones should they come across serious crime or get into trouble.

The recent troubles in Woodhill have caused some parents to question why they should not take the law into their own hands, and most reasonable people can understand this viewpoint. Sadly, they would very quickly find themselves before the courts.

Bradford's method may be an effective alternative avenue for Bury Council to explore in conjunction with the Greater Manchester Police.

KEVIN M. GOULD,

Conservative candidate,

Elton ward.