I ECHO the ideas of Labour member Richard Bertin about clearing up rubbish from the back lanes in the town.

However, this is not a new idea. As a spokesman for Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales, I have been campaigning for several years to rid this area of discarded cookers, sofas, refrigerators and other household articles from fly tippers who persistently do this.

It is the duty of every citizen of this town to have some pride of where they live and report these matters to the council; after all, who wants to live in squalor?

The same formula can be applied to dumped or burned-out cars and graffiti. However, there can be small victories with rigorous campaigning with the repainting of garages in Dunlin Court, obliterating the graffiti that was on them.

The initiative taken recently by the Vale of Glamorgan Partnership to have an open day at Barry Leisure Centre on the future of Castleland can only be good. This gave the opportunity for residents to have their say on one of the most neglected areas of the town. I look forward to seeing more positive contributions into this area.

Barry Shaw Spokesman Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales Merthyr Street Barry