THE way the results of the latest residents' survey were reported in last week's Gazette does not paint a fair or balanced picture of what our residents feel about Hillingdon Council (More than a quarter feel 'unsafe' in borough, Gazette, March 30).
At a time when councils across the country are being criticised for cutting services such as libraries, these results are good by any measure.
The story and the headline focused on the number of residents who feel unsafe in Hillingdon. What it did not do was to highlight that 65 per cent of residents feel safe and the fact that residents' satisfaction of how the police and the council are tackling anti-social behaviour has increased by 15 per cent since 2009.
It is also worth mentioning that the Gazette's support of the council's 'Keep it out of the picture' anti-social behaviour awareness campaign, which has been running since September, has been non-existent.
This is disappointing, as it is an issue the Gazette clearly recognises is important to residents.
On the wider issue of satisfaction with those services that are important to our residents, the survey shows high levels of satisfaction: household waste collection (88 per cent), doorstep recycling (83 per cent), libraries (79 per cent) and parks and open spaces (76 per cent).
While these results show the council is doing much of what our residents want us to do and that, mostly we are getting things right, we are not complacent and there are some areas where we need to improve.
It is a shame that, on this occasion, the Gazette hasn't fulfilled its role as a community newspaper, reflecting some of the positive things in the borough.
COUNCILLOR DOUGLAS MILLS Cabinet member for community safety
Hillingdon Civic Centre
High Street Uxbridge
