WE DO not live in an ideal world. But that does not mean we can’t try to make things better.

I work in Lowther Street and live in Grosvenor Terrace. Over the past two years, I have seen Lowther Street, Penley Grove Street and Townend Street go downhill.

Now one of your readers on Union Terrace writes about finding a needle in her garden, saying: “Two weeks ago my children were looking for a tennis ball and found a needle. This is dangerous. This is unacceptable.”

A few months ago a resident of Brownlow Street also found such a needle in his back garden, where his young child played. Luckily in both cases there was no harm to the youngsters, but the potential was there.

Imagine if one of these children picked up the blood contaminated needle, and somehow scratched themselves with it?

In both cases, the residents tie these events to the Arc Light hostel, whether this is the case or not. I suggest moving the hostel to the outskirts of York, possibly to an industrial area. It won’t solve the problem, but it takes it away from vulnerable children and local residents.

Gordon Campbell-Thomas, Grosvenor Terrace, York.