A SOCIETY that is becoming increasingly complex must be governed by rules. All reasonable people accept this - the alternative is anarchy. However, it is not so much the laws themselves, rather how they are interpreted. Observing the "letter of the law" is perfectly adequate in most cases, yet there are occasions when a degree of leeway is more desirable. One such case is highlighted in our columns today.

This newspaper is not at all happy with the actions of Elgar Housing Association, which has threatened to take a couple to court over the storing of children's toys in a stairwell. The pair could be fined for flytipping, a charge that is usually reserved for people who dump rubbish. The housing group felt obliged to take action after neighbours complained.

We have no problem with the principal. However, such draconian measures are not only heavy-handed but also patently unfair. Surely there could have been a modicum of compromise, a degree of negotiation that could have prevented matters from reaching such a point of apparent no return?

The couple concerned live in a block of flats. Their small children need fresh air and exercise, and it is this factor that is bringing about the storage problem. There is probably not a great deal of room to manoeuvre. But this problem should never have been allowed to reach this stage. Our wish is that the parties can get around the table and work out a compromise. Talking is always preferable to conflict.