AS a tenant of Westlea Housing Association I am of the opinion that some recent letters printed on your letters page give an entirely false picture of the association.

Having been a board member in the past, and very cynical and critical with it, I can appreciate both sides of an argument.

As housing associations go Westlea is one of the better ones. It is not perfect but I think all tenants would agree that their living conditions have improved enormously since Westlea took over from the district council. Westlea cannot make its tenants behave in a reasonable fashion, its only sanctions being eviction, or in certain cases, anti-social behaviour orders. These remedies can only be obtained through the courts which, quite rightly, require reliable evidence.

Westlea is not an alternative police force some tenants seem to think that it is. Criminal acts such as smashing fences and windows are matters for the police who, I have found, are more than willing to act provided that the complainant will give evidence. Fear of reprisals from the criminals is more imagination than reality and no excuse for expecting Westlea to wave a magic wand.

It is very unclear just what Barbara Guthrie expects Westlea to do apart from mending her fence for the third time which is hardly reasonable. Neither is it reasonable for Mr Bell to damage Westlea property by spreading grease on it.

Incidentally, over the years Westlea has spent a great deal on improvements for Calne tenants, recognising some of the local problems.

R J HARVEY

Lyneham