AT the council forum on April 1, I asked the Labour group to return the grey refuse bins to weekly collections because of the many complaints received from the people of Blackburn with Darwen. Not unexpectedly they refused.

I had been told previously by officers it would cost £200,000 to restore this service -- money not available.

People should be aware that £200,000 has just been allocated to reserves due to the efficiency of the recycling in the past year. Next came the excuse that they would need more landfill or an incinerator -- wrong again.

During the winter months when collections returned to weekly, recycling remained constant, so no more excuses let's have weekly collections all year round -- or is this just another stealth tax?

Coun DEREK HARDMAN (Con), Livesey and Pleasington ward, Wythburn Avenue, Cherry Tree, Blackburn.