IN response to the letter from reader Mrs Millinchip of Catshill (collection of recycling boxes) I must say I sympathise with householders who co-operate magnificently to make the recycling service the success it has become; with Bromsgrove's performance now matching that of the best councils in the country.

It happens to me, so I appreciate it can be worrying and frustrating not knowing if you have been missed by the collection vehicle if the time of collection varies from week to week.

I think it is important for residents to understand the service is still not perfect despite the sterling efforts of the council's in-house team to rectify the problems inherited from so-called expert consultants who cost taxpayers thousands of wasted pounds with the initial chaos caused by errors in the structure of the collection rounds. That is now history, but much work has still to be done to improve the efficiency of the service - such as reducing the manning levels on the side-lift vehicles, extending the full service to narrow roads and consolidating rounds in each area.

The council has recently approved the new Street Scene policy which will result in improved street cleansing, grass cutting and refuse collection.

Changes will be phased in from this April and ultimately householders will receive a third wheeled bin for all recyclable materials which will then be collected by the side-lift vehicle instead of the manpower-intensive kerbside recycling trucks. So, residents must expect further changes to the refuse and recycling service before things settle down for the better.

Cllr Stephen Peters

Hollywood & Majors Green ward

Chairman - Refuse & Recycling

Scrutiny Task Group

Bromsgrove District Council