I WAS extremely concerned to read the article headlined "Introduction of wheelie bins" in the In Touch leaflet.

The final paragraph "the new collection services will comprise collecting general household waste from wheelies one week, with recyclables using the existing bag system, the next" is a very "nice" way of saying that general rubbish collection will reduce to a collection every two weeks.

I have moved from an area where this collection service was introduced last year. During the summer months there was not only the obvious problem of the smell of two-week old rubbish outside your house, but there was also a huge problem with maggots - not to mention other vermin. A lot of people I know in areas where this system is already in place resort to taking their own rubbish to the tip, so they don't have two-week old rubbish in their bins.

This obviously alleviates the problem, but effectively they are doing their own rubbish disposal - something that should be provided out of our council tax.

Is this the thin end of the wedge? Will refuse collection reduce to every three weeks - or every four weeks?

While I am in favour of encouraging recycling, I am sure that there must be another way of doing this, rather than reducing the general rubbish collection and risking the possible health issues that this could bring.

I realise other authorities have already introduced this system and still more are following. Why does Worcester have to be a follower? Why can't we be a leader in protecting basic services that people want and need?

S McGINNES, Worcester.