IN the light of recent events, and the coverage of the CCTV cameras issue in the Bolton Evening News, I would like to ask this -- would Mr Jeff Smethurst, Chief Housing Officer, be willing to come to my house on The Stray and listen to my grievances.

And take a look at the camera in question to see if he can say whether the cctv covers my house, as I was informed, when an incident took place regarding a moped outside my property, that it could not be seen by this camera; therefore proving that the said camera does not cover my property?

I am not against the cctv cameras, as the estate has improved since their introduction. It is not perfect, but where is in these times?

I fully agree with the comments of Peter Johnston in the Letters column. A better method and more tact by the council could have been used over the whole issue.

I find that this extra money that I have been asked to pay is going to leave me with no alternative but to ask my children to do without things and that we are going to struggle even more. I live on what they call borderline.

We also have the issue of the owner occupiers. They do not have to pay this charge, but they still get the benefit of the cameras. They, unlike the tenants, do not, and can not, be forced to pay these charges. The council, in my and many other people's opinion, have ridden roughshod over the residents' wishes. I agree that owner occupiers should not have to pay these charges. Nobody, whether council tenants or owner occupiers, should pay anything. When these cameras were first mooted, my husband asked what, if any, cost there would be to the residents, and was informed by the Estate Manager that all costs had been paid for by the Government and no extra cash was required from the residents.

As for notice of these charges. I was not informed until November 20, 2002, yet the council insist it was earlier. Well, that is news to me. I have sent a letter and emailed the council, also my husband has tried to contact them on numerous occasions and never got an answer. Mrs Rita Lillie, Residents' Association Chairman, has requested meetings with the council on behalf of the residents and was refused. Just how are we supposed to discuss anything with the council if we hit brick walls at every turn?

Mrs Gaynor Derbyshire

The Stray

Hall i'th' Wood

Bolton