• THE Camden New Journal’s letters pages generally contain a litany of personal examples of maladministration of Camden Council.

Many of the articles in the newspaper also reveal similar institutional cases. These range from the £2.4million fining of the council for failures over four years to provide fire safety measures and the death of a 32-year-old woman, through what appears to be the near collapse of its once-renowned education system, to a housing non-repairs backlog of huge magnitude, and a failing – even by its own report – of the Community Investment Programme.

However in very few instances do we get a rebuttal from a councillor, an apology, or anything other from an anonymous council spokesperson than a bland, parroted, statement such as “the safety of our residents is a major priority”.

Yet many residents fail to contact their councillors about their complaints even though some councillors are only too willing to help when they have been ignored by officers.

Similarly many residents fail to use existing systems such as safer neighbourhoods panels, district management committees, or offers of local law firms to take up cases of repairs with the council or private landlords on a no-win-no-fee basis.

Some residents refuse to air their problems in letters to the press or give interviews to local journalists. I am frequently told that there is no point in writing to the CNJ as they will not publish the letter. My response is that they certainly will not if you do not submit one.

My advice is that if you are not prepared to use an existing means to get your problem solved, for example mushrooms growing on your leaking ceiling, and make a fuss if nothing is done, then you have to live with them. Protest and survive. Otherwise stop moaning and whingeing.

MICK FARRANT, NW5