Unfair attack on district

Your report on Moxley hypes up the area's problems. It picks on areas such as Harrowby Road and the Curtin Drive flats, giving the impression that the whole area is blighted.Yes, we had serious problems with youths before Christmas, but not everyone agrees this was typical of life here. Your feature took aspects of this, eg. the excavator incident, making it look as though Moxley is a hotbed of crime and disorder. It isn't, and your report is so unbalanced as to be downright misleading.

Of course we've felt the adverse effects of change. Where hasn't? Small shops and local pubs struggle everywhere. Your report mentions the Aldi supermarket, but we also have a pharmacy, a much-used Post Office and a surgery which is served by a dedicated team of health professionals.

To say that "everything that can go wrong has gone wrong" is an example of the sort of sensationalism which gives newspapers a bad name. It completely ignores the great example of people like the late Tony Steadman, for example, and others who continue to work for the good of Moxley people.

You can't escape some anti-social behaviour, wherever you live. Family life is fragmented today, and youngsters often lack the home security they need.

But to imply that our local youngsters are worse than elsewhere is wrong. We have two good schools and a playgroup, and staff and parents are proud of them all. Groups of teenagers gather in the evening, here as everywhere, but most of them are OK at heart, and to write them all off as "no-hope kids" is absurd.

Situated between Bilston, Darlaston and Wednesbury, Moxley does struggle for a sense of its own identity. But community events do take place at the People's Centre and on the premises of our two churches, Moxley Methodist and All Saints.

These maintain buildings and activities for the benefit of everyone who needs us. The churchyard of All Saints is always well-tended, and is an oasis of colour throughout the year, even though it's right on the Black Country Route.

Finally, with our councillors, I believe there's much which could be done to restore a sense of local pride. Action is essential on eyesore buildings and waste ground. A properly funded youth project would be a real advantage.

Rev Richard Inglesby, Sutton Road, Moxley.