People do the harm, not flats

May I reply to the letter on Dothill, Wellington, by "Name and address supplied" that appeared in Friday's edition?

With an amazing lack of logic, the poor lady says that "they are not perfectly good homes" because she "lived there for a number of years" and has "physical and mental health issues caused by anti-social activities there".

While sympathising with her suffering, I feel it is important to point out that anti-social activities are conducted by people, not buildings.

There is no guarantee that should the flats be knocked down and the green network of trees be replaced with a housing estate, that the occupants of this instant slum will not indulge themselves in anti-social behaviour.

"Out of the frying pan and into the fire" would appear to describe that situation.

The flats, the children's playground and the green network must stay. The flats and the playground must be refurbished and only responsible, mature people who will appreciate the beauty of their surroundings allowed to reside there. In that way everybody wins.

Homes are brought back into use, a play area is brought back into use and a green area is saved.

Denis Allen, Wellington