I AM writing in response to the article in the Citizen (April 11) regarding "Fuming Phil May Cut Out".

I run a ladies hairdressers on Caunce Street and am a resident. What Phil has said is true.

In the five years I have lived and worked here I have seen a steady decline in the area.

But, unlike Phil, I do not put most of the blame on the council who in my honest opinion are trying hard to make the area a better place to live in.

The main blame goes to absentee landlords who are only too pleased to buy property in this area and do very little to them to make them habitable.

In some cases you wouldn't let a pig live in them, let alone families.

A lot of people who live in them are either alcoholics, drug addicts or families that have been moved from other deprived areas because they are not capable of living like respectable normal people who care about their property and community.

As long as the agents and landlords receive their rent and commission they couldn't care less who they rent to and until the council does something about them it does not matter how many millions they put into this area it will still be a slum.

The DSS must also take a lot of the blame.

They pay part or most of the rents and I have been led to believe they are not even inspected before tenants move in.

Regarding the council's response to Phil's comments, I applied for a grant to modernise my shop premises but was turned down.

I was told there were no grants available for shops. I would like the council to explain to me what type of business I need in order to qualify for a grant.

I don't want to sell my property as Phil does. I was born in this area and have a strong affection for it, but if something is not done soon Blackpool will die and no amount of money will help it then.

Mrs J Forsyth, Secretary, Talbot & Brunswick Community Association, Church Street, Blackpool.