I sypathise with anyone suffering damage but you just cannot legislate for everyone's actions when setting out a plan of action for a heathland. If merely a pitch-sized area was cut in the middle of the heath, the intrusion of weeds and other unwanted flora/fauna would proliferate elsewhere.

Although the heath was formerly left to it's own devices, that was not the way things could or should have remained. You have at your disposal a rare piece of lowland heathland in this part of the world and has to be treated as such or the environment would have simply become scrub land. The cutting of the grass for a limited period of time had to happen (it's unlikely to be a permanent arrangement anyway) to allow the native grasses and plants to gain a proper foothold again.

By the way, you should have a look into the past at http://dmnw26769.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ahra/history.htm and you'll see from the photos of yesteryear that the grass was always cut short then too.

You're a bit late with your condemnation of the cutting of the grass which has been happening for a couple of years now. Our group were always open to outside comment but we couldn't get any of our 'opponents' to attend the meetings or discuss it properly with the group.

If the lads who are causing this trouble are playing too near properties, perhaps a kindly word in their ear to play a little further away might work. You never know, they might just listen.

The location of the stones for the laying of the paths was just one of those unavoidable temporary problems with no easy solution. We had them directly in front of our house while we were trying to sell up but we tolerated it and got by.

As for the bonfire, tradition will probably always win over and deem that Ashton Heath is a set location for Nov 5th. I have enjoyed the fireworks/bonfire etc and spent time on the heath on Nov 5th. I did however put my back into it the following weekends and helped to clear the mess left by fly-tippers and people who just dropped rubbish on the night. The council did their bit too but the number of fires lit and the idiotic stuff people brought to burn meant the clear-up was on a huge scale. No wonder the volunteer group get annoyed about bonfire night - no-one else ever bothers to help after the celebrations. As usual, there are the do-ers and the moaners sat on their sofas. I can look back on my time living on Ashton Heath with pleasure and a feeling that I did my bit and made a positive difference.

Town: russandjosie@tiscali.co.uk

YOU AND ME BOTH KNOW THE RESPONSE WE WOULD GET TO A "POLITE REQUEST"! I READ WITH INTREST THAT YOU NO LONGER LIVE IN THE VICINITY,AND IS EXACTLY THE RESPONSE SOMEONE WHO DOES,NT HAVE TO TOLERATE THE PROBLEMS LEFT BEHIND AFTER THIER IMPROVEMENT EXERCISE.MAY WE REQUEST THAT THE NEXT TIME THIS EXERCISE IS CONTEMPLATED,YOU HAVE A THOUGHT FOR THE PEOPLE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY YOUR ACTIONS,SOME OF WHICH ARE PENSIONERS,AND PEOPLE WHO REGARD P&Q AS A PRICELESS COMODITY.

The majority of volunteers who have helped improve Ashton Heath are pensioners themselves and all enjoy peace & quiet.

One brave female in AHRA risked her own personal safety, received a personal threat and withstood a tirade of four-letter words whilst taking to task a selfish oaf who unloaded a motorbike out of his van to use in the area. As a defender of peace and quiet, this lady has few equals.

I care greatly about Ashton Heath and most of the people who live in the area despite not living there for a year now. I hate to hear about the mindless minority still causing problems for the innocent over there. I hope your problems dissipate quickly but do remember that every one of the local volunteers help out because they care.

Town: russandjosie@tiscali.co.uk

They play football in front of my house. Let them play. They just kids. I would encourage kids to play on the Heath. They could be doing much worse.

I cannot comprehend the confusion of ideas that could provoke critisism of the work done by the Ashton Heath Residents Association.

Andrede

Town: butz65@blueyonder.co.uk

Hi Andrede -

Thanks for your support. As you probably know, I do live in sight of the heath. However, I feel it isn't a good idea to keep up a conversation with someone who keeps writing in upper case :)

Over the two years that, in conjunction with Wigan Council and BTCV, local residents have put in over 1,000 hours work to tidy up the heath and pathways a small minority of narrow-minded people have carped about the work. It used to dispirit us, but now we realise that some people have no horizons beyond their own self-interest, will put nothing into the community, and are incapable of understanding environmental management, or appreciate the piece of nature on their doorstep.

Thankfully the Ashton Heath Residents' Association and other groups in Ashton are striving to make the town better, for us, our children and their children.

Over the past few years we have seen a number of local community groups spring up, and it's heartening to know that, out of the several thousand people who live in Ashton, at least a few have become involved in trying to improve their town.

- David -

KEEPS WRITING IN UPPER CASE? WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

WRITING IN UPPER CASE ON MESSAGE BOARDS IS CONSIDERED TO BE 'SHOUTING'. It does influence how messages are received.

I DO NOT PROFESS TO BEING OF HIGH INTERLECT,A DEPARTMENT IN WHICH YOU SEEM TO HOLD ALL THE ACES, MR D.M!THE GUY WHO RESPONDED YESTERDAY SEEMED TO RESPECT OUR VIEWS AND RESPOND FAIRLY.I HAVE ENJOYED MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT THIS FORUM,BUT HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATIONS EXPERIENCED BY OTHER RESIDENTS WHEN DEALING WITH YOUR LITTLE ORGANISATION,AS YOU SEEM TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS!ANYWAY WHO AM I TO COMPLAIN!BUENOS TARDES.

You don't need to be of higher intellect to understand the difference between capital letters and lower case. They teach that at primary school.

As for respecting views, that's a bit rich of anyone who cannot see Ashton Heath from their house. I assume you can't see Ashton town centre from your house, but that doesn't mean you can't have an opinion on it.