Sir,

I have just returned from an enjoyable short holiday. Everywhere was clean, with no litter, even in the vicinity of a MacDonald’s where the remains of take away food had been put in the bins provided. Everyone was polite and well behaved, young and old alike. There were unspoiled flower beds in public gardens with sculptures undamaged and unadorned by cigarette packets, coke tins or fast food wrappers. Owners cleaned up after their dogs. There were no abandoned cars or supermarket trolleys. The trains were spotless, safe and kept precisely to timetable. People were enjoying themselves in a host of different ways, but without annoying anyone else. Have I been dreaming, or in Stepford? No. Was I in Upminster, sadly, No. I was in Switzerland but it could so easily be Upminster, where 99% of people, from Harold Hill to North Ockendon, do behave just like this. It is only the 1% who spoil things for everyone else. If the 99% pull together and insist on standards being kept up, with the strong backing of neighbourhood police teams, the dream could become reality and the tail would have to stop wagging the dog.

Yours Sincerely,

Angela Watkinson