SIR — Living in the city centre does have its problems.

Like My Wyre (Chronicle letters, April 9) I am faced with the annoyance of beggars on a daily basis, and I constantly ask myself why isn’t something done about it?

It’s not just the beggars, but also those who pretend to be buskers to avoid the police and who don’t have an ounce of musical ability. Winchester once had a Buskers’ Charter — it’s time it was dusted off and reintroduced.

Recently, on one of the very rare occasions when I have seen a police officer in uniform in the High Street, I asked why the police didn’t do something about the beggars.

He said something to the effect of “we need a complaint first”. It’s not so easy to complain when you so rarely see a police officer.

Beggars are one problem, there are others.

Just a few weeks back I was struck by a man on a bicycle. He sped away up the pedestrianised High Street within five yards of a police officer who watched him approach and ignored him as he passed.

I asked the officer if riding a bike in the High Street was now allowed. He said no, so I asked why didn’t you say something to him.

He said he was going to something “more important”.

How important would it have been if an elderly person or a young child were struck and killed?

Lots has been written about drunken behaviour, and yes I know it is a national problem, but is that a good reason to ignore it here in Winchester?

Every week I am woken by drunken revellers in the early hours screaming and shouting at the tops of their voices as they move from pub to pub.

Have drunks more rights than me?

Isn’t making a disturbance, being drunk and disorderly, or serving drunks in a pub an offence any more? If they are, why aren’t they enforced?

I cannot finish this letter without mentioning the state of the pavements in The Broadway and High Street. They are an absolute disgrace, very dangerous in places and an eyesore.

We have our city council, a town centre manager, the police and community officers, yet between them they seem incapable of addressing and solving the problems.

Tony Smith, address supplied.