I read with great interest the letter written by Councillor Jane Kelly, Daily Echo, 24/01/2015.

So, you are going to convert the former Argos site into a combined youth centre? But what you have forgotten, Councillor Kelly, is that you have made virtually all the youth workers redundant and in a location with multi-agency partners some youths may feel uncomfortable in their presence.

The Crescent, which had so much fanfare, looks a sorry state and has been for quite a while.

If you’re going to hit targets then housing must be the issue and if this means going toe-to-toe with landlords then so be it. It is clearly identified that bad housing regulates people’s behaviour.

Look at the tenancy agreements and you will find some landlords are breaking their own rules by providing poor quality housing.

Look at last Thursday, January 22 in the precinct: A male was flat out in the entrance of TJ Hughes and nobody went to his assistance. Is that because we accept Boscombe is like this?

She also forgot to mention that with the recent publicity of stabbing and drug-related issues, it does not inspire people to live and work in the area.

Also, following the programme about Boscombe being the drug capital of the south, she said it might take 10, 20 or 30 years to sort out the problems. But Councillor Beesley said ‘judge me in two years’.

So who’s right? It’s been ongoing for 40 years and with additional funding in the past from central government in the format of SRB1, SRB 3 and NM all have failed because the council did not have the political will or finance to mainstream the projects.

As for the BIA perspective candidates. Where were you? This was the perfect opportunity to debate the issues with Councillor Beesley and put your name and face in the political limelight. I think you are under-estimating the Tory election machine as it is well oiled and co-ordinated in getting the electorate to the polling station.

Whoever gets in as the elected member of Boscombe West faces a hotbed of issues and the true and decent Boscombe resident and trader does not take fools lightly. Popularity soon turns to contempt and especially with the title of councillor, the perception of you changes.

Boscombe is Boscombe. It’s not going to be paradise but it’s not going to be a ghetto either. Love it or leave it.

Nigel Gillespie, Ascham Road, Bournemouth