A SUM of £26 a year will be charged by the district council from April 2, 2012, for the collection of one bin of garden waste every two weeks for the residents who wish to use the service.

This equates to £1 per bin – £26 to collect one bin every two weeks for one year.

Personally, I think this is exorbitant. The council wants the residents to use the green waste service which has been going on for a few years now. First it was using green plastic bags and then green wheelie bins were issued. Now for the privilege of using this service residents are going to be charged £1 a bin.

I shall revert to what I did before we were encouraged to use the green waste service. I have a fairly large garden four compost bins. I only put the surplus green waste in the wheelie bins.?After April I?shall put the surplus garden waste into large plastic bags, as I used to do, and if necessary take them to the local tip.

I would urge residents who use the fortnightly service to either compost the waste or to take it to the local tip if they have transport.

I have no objection to paying something for the collection but I think that £1 per bin is not on.

The council, I understand, have to get about 10,000 residents to use the service for it to be viable.

For those residents who have to pay full council tax, and I am one of them, we are now facing charges for collection of garden waste and the threat of car park charges. The pest control service is chargeable for residents not on benefits, although this is a very good service and I do not mind paying.

Whilst the council tax may not be increased residents are facing having to pay for services and the question "What else will we have to pay for?"

I always thought that the collection of garden waste and recycling items were introduced to save money on landfill. Councillors are wanting it both ways, charge for the collection and save on landfill.

I do believe that residents using the service should pay something but £1 a bin is too much.

I hope people will think twice before registering for the service. Let us have a reasonable charge

– Mrs Janet P. Pennock,?Ruardean Woodside.