BEING a resident of Harlow for nearly 50 years, I can recall when Harlow was a clean and beautiful place to live, well-kept lawns, no litter (a clean town).

In the last two decades, I'm afraid the town has gone downhill, with cutbacks etc.

Poor services, hardly any maintenance to roads and paths. I'm afraid our New Town is now rather down at heel, the squalor and filth at the Staple Tye area take-away rubbish strewn about the area by the youth of today.

No, we cannot blame all the parents. They have not been taught many graces themselves and the young do not seem to be taught any graces at all, showing no respect for themselves or their environment.

Our wonderful new bus shelter is absolutely disgusting, littered with cigarette butts, cigarette packets casually discarded, take-away cartons, drink cans, beer cans etc.

The glass doors of our wonderful new shelter have already been vandalised and the glass splattered with food. A very unpleasant experience is to be had by any individual requiring public transport. What can we do about it?

Perhaps I should not go for my weekly trip into the town centre (as many have already done so, to the dismay of the retail businesses in the centre).

I could elect instead to use my local shops at Coppice Hatch. To do this I must walk along the path from Woodcroft adjacent to Abbotsweld School. A risky alternative as the path is littered with glass, dog excrement, yet more take-away litter, damaged fencing and enough beer cans to build a light aircraft! Harlow does have a recycling policy doesn't it?

There is one or perhaps two ways to remedy this situation. Penalties a heavy fine for littering, or use this country's most abundant resource, people. People committed to community service. Perhaps employ some able pensioners to do this job.

Please, please clean up this town. Not just for the residents but for visitors and tourists, all of whom must be appalled by what they see and vow never to return.

I write this letter in the hope that its publication may make a difference.

J. C. SPENCER,

Woodcroft,

Harlow