I READ with great interest the article in the Bury Times (Sept 3) about the questionnaire and replies regarding refuse collection.

I wonder if any of these questionnaires, which were supposedly sent to random addresses, arrived in Fishpool because I don't think that anyone here would say they were satisfied with a refuse collection system that makes the same area suffer every bank holiday.

There are six bank holidays a year and so Fishpool residents have to suffer the smell and inconvenience for an extra week each time. Black refuse bags are allowed (at the home-owners' expense), but invariably cats and dogs (even a fox has been spotted in Fishpool) rip them open. The mess is strewn around the back streets and the collectors will not pick it up.

A much better system was used when the local council emptied the bins a day late, and Saturday morning was used to catch up. But now the five-day working week rules what the council considers to be a "non-essential" service, though I think we all know that the real issue here is - money!

Surely Health and Safety must be a consideration.

A much fairer system would be to let a different area be delayed each time. But then I suppose the higher council tax-payers in such places as Ainsworth or Tottington must not be allowed to suffer as much as the lower band tax-payers in Fishpool.

DISGRUNTLED RESIDENT

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