SOME months ago, Hillingdon Council's chief executive expressed delight at the appointment of his deputy: "This will enable me to get out more".
For his next outing, would he like to join me in a short walk along Yiewsley High Street, a journey I have made many times in the last 18 months?
Destination: West Drayton Station, a major transport hub in West London for bus, rail and canal.
Starting at Aldi, not far from the splendid office of Hillingdon Homes, next door we find a small cul de sac in which there is a long established, wretched rubbish dump.
It contains discarded domestic equipment and a collection of festering rubbish.
Next door again, at nunber133, an abandoned building, a large metal cabinet mounted above a barricaded door is slowly disintegrating.
It is an eyesore without a doubt and a danger to passing pedestrians - probably. Parts of it move about in the slightest breeze.
As we approach the canal bridge we see the full horror of Club 7; another abandoned building.
Completely wrecked, not fenced, not screened, not made secure, another sinister eyesore, and dangerous perhaps?
We are now at West Drayton Station. Why are the station buildings covered in graffiti? Why is the service track full of litter?
Why is this the scruffiest station on the Paddington-Oxford line of First Great Western?
Nearby Ealing Broadway is a truly enviable four-star delight.
During our brief trip we have passed numerous small businesses that are well run and staffed by hard working taxpayers.
They make a major contribution to our chief executive's truly gorgeous salary.
It is the duty of Hillingdon's chief executive to remedy these matters. When may we expect action?
GAVIN WADDELL Greenacres Avenue
Ickenham
