WHAT a sad and sorry state Gillingham is in. It was never the most attractive place to live but at least it had some pride in its history and the inhabitants believed it had a future.

What do we have today? Empty business premises, dogs’ muck, litter, cars parked all over the place and at times a high street that serves as an F1 race track.

I am sure I am not the only person unable to comprehend what has gone wrong and to wonder whether anything can be done to arrest the decline.

No doubt other towns like ours are going the same way, downhill, where the inhabitants have lost interest having realised that all the council is interested in is building houses and collecting council tax.

Can the infrastructure cope with all these people?

The influx of supermarkets has killed off the high street and it is a sign of the times that we now have charity shops, fast food outlets, estate agents and undertakers.

Thank goodness we still have Crockers, Reynolds, The Card Shop and a few others – no butcher, baker, candlestick maker, or even an antique shop.

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We used to have our streets swept, drains attended to and the occasional traffic warden to ensure that all drivers obeyed the law regarding parking.

All gone, and yet our council tax continues to rise. Why, and where has all the money gone? Don’t even mention the police or our ‘wonderful’ MP.

The town should be uplifted and moved to Somerset or Wiltshire, even better Australia. At least the sun shines in Oz.

I hate to think what the town will look like in 10 or 20 years’ time – probably a giant sink estate.

Having got all that off my chest, I am confident that in due course the town will take a long hard look at itself and say ‘it’s past repair’.

Maybe others have different views. Let’s hear from you.

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