ON BEHALF of Hayes Town Partnership, I would like to applaud the action by Hillingdon Council in introducing on-the-spot fines for spitting in public places (see previous letter).

In 2009, nearly 80 per cent of people questioned in a survey about issues in the town identified this as their top concern over and above any other kind of anti-social behaviour. That finding was confirmed in a follow-up survey late in 2010.

The Botwell Police Safer Neighbourhoods Panel has been pressing for action for more than two years, and it is good to see that with the support of councillors Janet Gardner and Peter Curling it has now been taken up by the council.

So thanks are due to everybody who is working together to put a stop to this unacceptable habit of a thoughtless minority.

I am engaging with local community groups to get the message across, but just for the record, it is not just people who chew paan or khat who are responsible but also young males who mimic professional footballers, who ought to know better.

DAVID BROUGH Chairman, Hayes Town

Partnership Station Road

Hayes