Editor –

I have just read an online Letter to the Editor from an ex-resident of Estcourt who visits family during December / January, and I feel challenged to write my own letter to be a bit proactive and not just give up on the town.

READ THE LETTER HERE: Visitor appalled by the state of town

I am a fairly new resident in Estcourt, having been here for just over two years, and I keep hearing about how Estcourt was the ‘Gem of the Midlands’. Sadly, I never saw it in its glory days and consequently can’t make any comparisons. I can, however, comment on the deterioration I have seen since coming to live here, as well as the lack of interest by those employed to run the town.

READ: Continuous pleas go unanswered

Living where we do, I am close enough to walk to our local supermarket, which I do from time to time, and the photos I am attaching are a reflection of the state of the pavement and gutters (which one has to negotiate to get there).

The holes in the pavement have just grown in size, the cement cover over the manhole has gone and someone will surely end up falling into it before long.

The gutters are totally blocked with rubbish just dropped by pedestrians and washed down by the rain; if it gets past the great big hole that is presently filled with stagnant water.

The pavement across the road from us has been turned into a road by all the vehicles driving along it to get into the park in Drummond Road, and the vacant stand next door is totally overgrown and a haven for layabouts and petty criminals.

We have had a spate of burglaries recently and have approached our ward councillor on numerous occasions to come and inspect the area and contact the owner to request a clean-up, but in spite of promises to do so, she has yet to arrive.

My husband has lived in Estcourt his whole life and paid rates and taxes, but no longer sees any benefit. Where is the money going to?