I READ with interest Mr Pritchard’s letter about the increase in crime in Manningtree.

It is true the reduction in policing means these petty criminals think they have a free run now.

We all feel less safe when we see graffiti like that sprayed on the walls of our library.

I am sure we all think: “If they could vandalise that lovely old building then how safe am I walking down the same street?”

Mr Pritchard asks how we can stop this criminal minority spoiling our lovely town and I would like to suggest three practical steps.

First, let’s give thanks and credit to whoever it was who ensured the damage was quickly covered over.

A zero-tolerance approach to vandalism makes it far less likely to recur.

We need to follow their example and act quickly to repair damage.

Second, let’s all do our bit to look after our town and keep it looking tidy.

Pick up litter. Report fly-tipping. Do our bit to show that we care about our community.

Third, let’s help the police. It isn’t their fault that their resources have been cut.

I’m not suggesting we all become have-a-go heroes, but most of us have a camera phone in our pocket and we can do our bit by photographing and reporting the people who do these mindless acts of vandalism.

Criminals may think they act with impunity but by working together we can prove them wrong.

We can keep Manningtree looking lovely and feeling safe.

Albert Tate New Road, Manningtree

  • Police force is still too inconsistent

Essex Police the most improved in Britain.”

Surely a police force being most improved actually doesn’t really mean much.

This has to depend where they started being judged in the first place.

So improvement on what we should be asking.

My dealings with Essex Police show they are much too inconsistent.

Individuals have their own way of dealing with issues – some good and some bad.

They lack the guidance and leadership overall that makes it equal and fair.

Their funding is possibly not the best, but if they did not have so many complaints to deal with they would have more money and time to spend on crime. More and more people have had to complain just to get a service.

Probably the only way they have achieved better results is to not log crimes when they feel it is not worth investigating.

If you telephone 101 you can wait weeks for a response but if you report online you get a response the next day. But the elderly etc don’t use the internet.

Morrisons is open longer than Clacton Police station.

Paul Hainesborough Potter Close, Clacton

  • Disbelief at ‘most improved’ rating

The Gazette states Essex Police is the most improved force in the country.

If this is true there must some awful police forces.

Tiptree police station has been sold, Kelvedon’s and Witham’s are also closed.

Essex Police do not answer phone calls or emails. They ask you to go online and enter your complaint and tell you will receive a statement within 28 days. The police force is a disaster waiting to happen.

Peter Healey Bull Lane, Tiptree

  • Time for chocolate not sour grapes

I AM responding to the falsehoods and personal attacks on me and the local Labour Party you published in the letters page yesterday from Mr Goacher from the Green (as in “totally naive”) Party.

In this missive he totally and deliberately misrepresented my views and those of the Labour Party regarding the proposed garden communities.

We are still, in principle, in favour of these developments to the west and east of Colchester as I made clear in my letter published on Monday.

They will however have to be well planned and immaculately designed with the necessary infrastructure in place to support the housing.

The latest proposals from consultants for East Colchester are not, which is why we will be campaigning and arguing for significant changes to them.

Mr Goacher is a nimby. He is happy to live in Colchester but appears to want to pull up the drawbridge and not let anybody else come and join us here in this wonderful part of the world.

If he gets his way we won’t have an adopted Local Plan which will lead to a developers’ charter and a free for all with planning applications here, there and everywhere, which would be totally irresponsible. But that’s the Greens for you.

He accuses me of having a Damascene conversion, but the only residents who have experienced one of those recently are the dozens of Green Party members and supporters who have left them to join the Labour Party over the last 18 months.

Perhaps I should remind Mr Goacher it’s chocolate eggs, not sour grapes, you consume at Easter time.

Tim Young Leader of the Labour Group Colchester Council Mascot Square, Colchester

  • Take care of your voters or you will lose them

I’m not affiliated to any political party and will not question any individuals freedom of choice of where to put their cross on May 4, but with regards to local services there is a clear difference between some of the candidates.

I regularly hear moans about lack of police, ambulances, doctors, nurses and the closing down of vital local services, now we are to lose our full-time firefighters.

I cannot believe that some up for the coming election are actively supporting this loss and still expecting votes.

Our community has clearly indicated that the want to keep their full-time firefighters and we have for once a very clear difference between the candidates on this issue.

I know where my vote is going.

“Voters are like teeth, if you don’t take care of them one by one you lose them.”

Trevor Armstrong Hazelville Close, Dovercourt

  • We have a choice of unknowns or failures

Our Lexden councillors made their annual appearance suggesting we must be having elections soon.

The choice appears to be voting for existing councillors who do nothing or unknown candidates who have done nothing except put their names forward.

We would be better without any councillors than have token representation.

I will as usual vote with my feet for the “None of the above party”.

In 2013 they had an overwhelming support of 65 per cent of eligible voters.

Andy Hamilton Acland Avenue, Colchester

  • Douglas a little late to the 'save our unit' party

Our MP is to be congratulated for his support for the Clacton minor injuries unit, even if he has come a little late to the party.

Is this sudden interest evidence of another Damascene conversion for our Tory/UKIP/Independent representative? We doubt it.

While Mr Carswell is very good at getting publicity for his activities, his record of achievement speaks for itself.

Robert Porter Labour county council candidate for Clacton East Andy White Labour county council candidate for Frinton and Walton

  • A-board ban plan long overdue

I HOPE councillor Mike Lilley is successful in purging the town of A-boards.

If you’re not stepping over a professional beggar chalking some sad design on the pavement, dodging an overly-matey chugger or jumping out of the way of a terminally obese geriatric boy-racer going 8mph on his lifestyle-scooter, you’re bumping into a blasted A-board.

In Germany, there is a bye-law that those with a BMI of 35 or over are not allowed to walk more than one-abreast.

It works very well and it is estimated to save 8,000 pedestrian lives every year, by avoiding normal healthy people having to divert into oncoming cars (the Germans are ruthless, if the green man is not showing, they will run you over and it will serve you right).

Sam Glen Eudo Road, Colchester