In response to the Evening Press front page report on Saturday ('Street of shame'), I wish to comment on the situation in Chapelfields.

On the whole this is a good area, where there is a sense of community for many including private home-owners and council tenants. Spoiling it are a few anti-social individuals who thrive on the publicity their actions provoke.

These individuals - children and adults - are not coming to the fore because of a lack of policing or enforcement by the council, but for the fact that during the last 25 years society has changed to one of self interest, whereas once we all knew our neighbours.

The end of this period can be traced to the rise of Thatcherite policies of the 1980s when she said "there is no such thing as society".

What is needed, not just in Chapelfields but across the city, is for residents to accept that the police and council can only help with with cooperation from locals. We need evidence to be able to prosecute, or in the case of council residents, evict. No amount of extra policing will solve this.

I appreciate that, as the article said, the individuals concerned are afraid to come forward. I can assure them that if they do everything will be done to protect them. By doing so we can build better communities for all.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing,

Acomb ward,

Carnot Street, York.

Updated: 12:27 Tuesday, April 23, 2002