The kampung spirit is still around, but it is increasingly being taken advantage of by certain groups in society ("Voiding the kampung spirit?"; March 17).

I can cite one incident involving a group of teenage skateboarders who were practising stunts in the void deck and multi-purpose hall in my area, plaguing residents with the noise of skateboards crashing from around 2pm until as late as 10pm.

In keeping with the kampung spirit, several residents, including myself, approached the teens to explain that the enclosed nature of the multi-purpose hall and void deck caused the crashing boards to echo unbearably, creating a disturbance to babies, young children, the elderly, the sick and others who needed to rest.

We also appealed to them to practise instead at the open-air park directly next door.

Unfortunately, our attempts failed. After several encounters, they even threatened me.

Alarmed, I approached the town council for assistance in resolving the issue. Eventually, a solution was implemented.

While appealing to others' kampung spirit is successful in some cases, there will be times when help from the authorities is required.

It has nothing to do with kampung spirit, but with inconsiderate behaviour on the part of some groups, which persist in their undesirable behaviour even though attempts are made to engage them.

I am not privy to the details of the incidents in Mei Ling Road and Haig Road. If the residents, like me, had tried to engage the users but were spurned, then it is reasonable that they turned to the authorities for help.

Our home is our sanctuary, and we have the right to expect that we can enjoy calm and rest in it.

I thank the authorities for executing their responsibilities under difficult circumstances, and urge them to stand by their decisions if other avenues have been exhausted.

Irene Chia Swee Neo (Ms)