IN reply to recent letters in the Citizen, we would be failing in our duties as a responsible Parish Council, if we did not act on any complaint received from residents or shop owners in our village.

A number of unofficial requests were made to the International Aid shop requesting that they improve their shop window, as we -- the Parish Council -- had received numerous complaints about it.

The Parish Council then wrote to the shop requesting them to tidy their window. This has been done and a further letter has been sent thanking them.

The problem of under-age drinking in our village is no worse than in any other village or town in the country and basically is a parental problem. The Parish Council is working with the police and the youth service to try and alleviate this. We are well aware that Coppull is not a Cotswold village but that does not stop the Parish Council, or the residents who live here, striving to improve it by introducing hanging baskets, flower beds and keeping the streets clean!

The Parish Council has on numerous occasions requested the Enterprise Centre to tidy up its premises, the problem being that it is a private business on private land and the Parish or Borough Council has no legal authority to insist that they comply with a request. We will of course ask them again.

May I ask, on behalf of the Parish Council, that if any resident in Coppull has a problem with rubbish or 'grot spots' in the village, that they contact any parish councillor as soon as possible, then it can be dealt with.

Coun Ken Ball, Chapel Lane, Coppull.