MOST reports and comments regarding the use of Ringstone Crescent Recreation Field, in Nelson, for mid-week League Criket make it appear that all residents are opposed to this, but not all feel the same way.

The field is, after all, for organised sport and has been since the houses around it were built.

As with other things these days, shouldn't we consider 'using it or losing it' and if we lost it, what would the alternative be?

The field is used daily by youngsters who either play football or cricket, and so be it, but there are a few who practise golf and I feel we are in much more danger of stray balls from this type of activity.

Then, we have groups of yong upeople who congregate daily at the top of the Crescent, often indulging in under-age drinking and drug-taking. Litter in abundance is scattered around by these thoughtless groups.

There are also numberous people who bring their dogs on to the Crescent to use it as a toilet (some, but not all, use the pooper scooper bins. Worst still are the residents who lest their dogs run around all day long without supervision and, of course, are never there to clean up the mess.

Then there are residents who persist in cutting up the turf around the edges of the field by using it as a car park.

I wonder how many of the residsents who are protesting about the cricket fall into one or more of the above categories?

From my point of view, proper use of the field by organised groups should be encouraged and I feel that sport is a good activity for adults and especially for young people and it is a good character-builder -- and it keeps them off the streets and from getting up to mischief.

The cricket is only played on one evening a week for a short period during the summer and, yes, these may be a small rusk of accident or a stray ball. But at least the games are supervised, while all the other things I have mentioned take place day in day out unsupervised.

Maybe the protesters should take a look at themselves and their own families before criticising others.

I, for one, am pleased that Pendle Council have agreed to continue with the cricket next year.

CONTENT RESIDENT (name and address supplied).