Tidy our town

I WOULD like to reply in support of a letter titled Ashamed to be Back by Daryl Rogers (Gazette, 30 November).
I too have travelled extensively within Australia and find the current state of vacant land, roadsides, kerbs and main entrances to Pakenham far less than desirable.
It has to be said that there are apparently six families moving into the shire daily, putting additional strain on our resources, but it also has to be recognised that certain basic services appear to be not maintained.
A prime example of this is taking the exit from the Pakenham Bypass onto McGregor Road into Pakenham.
Even before you arrive at the first set of lights on the corner of Webster Way, you are greeted with long grass, overgrown gutters and litter strewn about the place.
Honestly, I’ve seen better entrances and tighter controls to some rubbish tips.
Even sadder is the trip further down Webster Way, where again the grass along the nature strip abutting the grassland reserve has been allowed to grow unchecked. All this as we head into warmer weather and snakes are becoming more active.
Now, while it would be fair to say that I have had my fair share of dealing with Cardinia Council over the years and I do understand that they are busy and cannot please everyone all of the time, it seems a shame that red tape and beaurocracy has taken control of common ense, as quite often it is other agencies’ assets or responsibility to clean up their act as well.
All I want for Christmas is a tidy town to be proud of.
David Connor,
Pakenham.