IT’S time to put pen to paper. I have lived in Forshaw Street, off Orford Lane for 45 years (Warrington Guardian, February 8).

I have never seen it so bad since Warburtons bread shop and Jenks paper shop closed to be replaced by fast food shops.

The area around it is terrible with noise, parking, smells, drains blocked by fat being poured down them, industrial bins overflowing, bin bags containing food thrown on the floor attracting dogs, cats, birds and vermin.

Rats can be seen running up and down the alleyways, in people’s backyards.

You dare not leave your shed or back door open for fear of rats coming in.

The rats are on the community garden, I hate to think that the rats have got into the food shops.

Something needs sorting to stop the dumping of bags.

Unfortunately we don’t know if it is the shops or the flats above them that are dumping the rubbish.

With the help of Cllr Tony Higgins the council eventually moved the rubbish but the next day the bags were thrown on the floor again.

I have even put empty bins next to the rubbish but whoever is doing this still does not use the bins provided.

Orford Lane and the surrounding area used to be a nice place to live, now it’s hairdressers and fast food outlets.

The council has ruined this area by allowing all these outlets.

A FORSHAW STREET RESIDENT