REGARDING your article concerning the clean-up of the Railway Village, your phone poll asked is the root of the problem with the bedsits.

I myself have lived in one of the bedsits for the last nine years and I take a dim view to being classed as trouble or someone with a serious problem. I am sure I am not alone with my thoughts.

Yes, I was placed in the village, firstly to be close to my disabled mum who sadly I lost last October, and secondly to escape a violent relationship.

In the nine years on the village I have never caused any major trouble or problems. Would the public rather that I be a per cent of people who end up seriously injured or worse still, dead, due to domestic violence.

When we were known as the RVTA (Railway Village Tenants Association), to which I was the secretary, I was very involved with the village, organising day trips and social events.

Yes, we do have a few bad apples in the barrow but no more than any other housing estate.

I do agree that the village is split into two, which is down to longstanding tenants holding on to the past and viewing everyone the same and not giving anyone a chance.

It seems that people's minds are made up while the others can't do right for doing wrong. I am willing for someone to come and share my every day movement.

I hear you cry another one on .... not by choice I can assure you, but by ill health. There is nothing more I would like to be able to do than come home after work and walk my 15-year-old dog around Faringdon Road Park, cleaning up behind him of course.

I had worked all my life until ill health got the better of me three years ago so I ask again please don't tar us all with the same brush.

Melanie Greenwood

Railway VillageSwindon