IN reply to Alan Frost's response to "The state we're in" letter, I would like to say that I thoroughly endorse everything that was in J. C. Spencer's original letter.

Yes, there are litter bins at Staple Tye, but they are always filled to overflowing and it's days before they are emptied.

With the local area office in Staple Tye, surely they notice the litter and could complain to the owners.

With regard to the path up to Coppice Hatch, I find it extremely hard to believe it is checked and cleared every three weeks. Who checks it? Mr Frost?

Local parents walk their children the long way round to school because of the state of it. We have had cleaners clearing the litter from our service road today (the first time in months) and after they had gone, most of the litter was still there.

The workforce only seem to make a token effort to pick up the rubbish say one in three items. Who checks that they are doing their job properly?

My husband and I are both senior citizens and pay full council tax. Can anyone tell me just what we are getting for £88 per month?

Towns such as Crawley and Stevenage are kept in much better order by their local councils, and I don't think their council tax is as high as ours.

I am not reassured by Mr Frost's reply at all.

MRS CHARMAINE ISSARD,

Woodcroft,

Harlow

October 24, 2001 8:43