I READ, with some sympathy to the writer aggrieved by lack of investment in New Brighton (Mailbox, March 6). We all have, sometime in our lives, had a love for New Brighton, and all hope the private sector finally invest in the resort.

But then this moron deviates from the message he or she was trying to get across and criticises the people of our community, quoting: "The Tennis Centre is in an area notorious for crime, and completely out of reach of anyone other than the surrounding area." This is total fabrication.

The facts are that the M53, plus Bidston Station, is just 300 yards from the centre, and there is easy access by bus. If the area is so out of reach, surely then Tesco, MFI and B&Q can't all be wrong.

This is the first investment in my lifetime this local community has had, and not a penny had to come out of the coffers of the council for the building of the centre. The centre created 35 jobs, of which two from the community gained a job, myself being one of them.

Do you think that was good investment for the community? Not likely. For the record, a survey revealed that the majority of the community did not want the Tennis Club, they preferred a community swimming pool, plus multi sports hall.

There is 70 per cent of people out of work and desperate for a job. We know we have problems in the area, in regards to drugs and crime, etc. We have never tried to hide the fact.

There seems to be this misconception that crime is located just in one area. To those who believe their own local area is whiter than white, I suggest they visit the local court Monday to Friday, and see that the criminals don't all come from the Bidston area.

I hope that people will think twice before criticising our local community.

From Tony Duggan

North End,

Bidston.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.