HOLCOMBE Brook has been a nice, quiet, sought-after location for a good number of years but is fast becoming an intimidating, noisy, untidy and undesirable area because of a group of youths who are hell-bent on causing havoc.

Cars on Pot Green have had £600 worth of damage done to them, a local estate agents has been attacked, residents have been threatened, bus shelters have been smashed up, shops have been set alight and windows on Holcombe Brook precinct are now covered by metal shutters. Fights break out, there is heavy drinking by teenagers, drugs are dealt openly, loud music emanates from cars and youths block the public highway. I could go on.

One businesswoman had had enough and called a recent meeting for local business people and residents. I hope she was encouraged by the fact that around 40 people turned out to support her cause. A representative of the police, an Inspector Clarke, told the meeting that because many of the problems occurred on private car parks and roads it was up to the landlords and business owners to deal with. Noisy car stereos was a matter for environmental health officers. Why?

Thankfully, Councillor Barry Theckston was at the meeting and pointed out to Insp Clarke that the police could use newly-introduced anti-social behaviour laws. Coun Theckston was seen by local residents the following night approaching local youths, talking to them and moving them on. But why was a councillor doing what I thought was a job for the police? Anyway, thank-you councillor.

The only way for local people to get any real action is to ring the police on 0161 872 5050 every time an incident occurs and get a log number of the complaint. Only when the powers-that-be see the bad figures will they do something about our problem in Holcombe Brook.

HOLCOMBE BROOK RESIDENT