WHILST standing in the local shop waiting my turn in the queue, an elderly lady next to me asked: "Why do children feel it's their right to be nasty purely because they say they are bored?"

She referred to the subject of Liden Library as featured in the Adver and the story of youngsters causing such concern it now operates guarded opening arrangements.

This comes after a long spate of vandalism on the church next to the library and a few years ago the shop itself being set alight, causing a closure of several months whilst repairs were carried out.

The comment from the lady in the queue came after the experience of asking a young teenager recently why he had emptied the contents of a rubbish bin over the pavement but then was polite enough to say sorry when he realised some of it had been blown over her foot "but I'm bored".

As a resident of Liden myself for some years I am saddened to see a continuing problem in the area. Anti-social behaviour has to be treated as unacceptable and lessons have to be learned by the offenders who should realise the responsibility of their actions. It is so often the minority who affect the majority, unfair but true, and sometimes reasons also need to be discovered for such behaviour and then dealt with.

About five years ago, a contingent of eight, eight to 12 year olds arrived at my house saying "you work on the radio can you help us to get a skate park?'' They'd written to various people and received no acknowledgements. Not much encouragement for youngsters who did try to help themselves.

The role of the Community Police Officer is a vital one and local PC Brixey proves this by his three-sided approach, being seen as the familiar face of the police, encouraging a stronger police presence as a deterrent when needed and the proposal of a youth club to positively channel youngsters' energies.

If all three aspects get due support, perhaps the centre of Liden will be both safer and happier for all and the staff at the library, of which I am a member, will be able to stop their new role as bouncers and get on with the job.

SHIRLEY LUDFORD

Liden