It seems ludicrous Colchester Council is proposing a one-size-fits-all approach to recycling.

As an active member of the Colchester Green Party, of course I want to see more people recycling as much as possible.

While the council claims this is what its wheelie bins proposal will achieve, the realist in me can’t help thinking this is probably a case of more financial cutbacks.

Then there’s the limit of three bin bags per household per fortnight which gives little regard to the number of people living at an address or their personal circumstances. 

People with pets, for example, may generate more general waste than those that don’t, and, of course, a person living alone will find it far easier to keep within these boundaries than a large family could.

I am worried fortnightly collections could lead to an increase in flytipping and to a build-up of bin bags in streets as people end up dumping their black bags when they are unable to comply with the three bag rule.

This could result in health and safety issues as uncollected bags pile up and block footpaths, in addition to potential issues with foxes or rats splitting bags, spreading waste onto the streets.

Yes, we need to be doing more to prevent waste and yes, the Greens want to recycle as much as possible, but forcing residents to comply with such an inflexible system could be counterproductive and undermine public support. 

This is not the way forward.  

If the council is set on imposing the three bag rule it will need to allow for a period of education and transition in which it can encourage residents to create less waste and recycle more.  

It needs to listen to the people it is elected to serve.

Blake Roberts Colchester Green Party Grantham Road, Great Horkesley

  • Recycling is our civic duty

Postman Gareth Evans (Facebook comments Monday) cites pure laziness regarding household waste disposal on bin day - all black bags and no recyclables.

I see evidence of this also, and it’s the usual suspects every week. 

But note, these same households are careless and negligent in most other ways too, scruffy houses and gardens, indicating it’s a frame of mind. 

Black bags or wheelie bins, it’ll make no difference to the recycle rate until the idle minded are made to realise it’s actually a civic duty to recycle.

Dominic Graham and this soft headed council first need to get tough on those that won’t, before squandering thousands on bins and expensive modification of trucks.

Paul Hart Alexandra Drive, Wivenhoe

  • Denial is ‘quite extraordinary’

I FIND Tim Young’s denial of any deception in Thursday’s Gazette quite extraordinary. 

In a recent article defending his record on tourism he stated the 5 million visits figure he quoted was visitor numbers to the borough, with the further implication that the visitor spending figures were based on these visitors to the borough. 

It now turns out though that this was actually a total of all visits to local attractions such as Leisure World and the zoo by residents and visitors alike, which would of course mean residents who are regular users of these attractions will have been counted on each visit, some many times over. 

In a footnote in the article the Gazette even asked Mr Young to explain how these figures were arrived at, and he declined to.

Mr Young would appear to believe it is acceptable to paint a picture of Colchester as something it is not, a major tourist centre with visitor numbers to rival York, when it is in fact no such thing, and then to be outraged with MP Will Quince for revealing the truth. 

Fudging these figures has not only misled residents and visitors, it has misled local businesses, and businesses considering investing in this town. 

This is completely unacceptable.

If this coalition council’s deputy leader and portfolio holder for culture and regeneration feels it is necessary to misrepresent information in order to cover up his failings in his role then it is time for him to resign so someone capable of doing the job can be given it, and also to seriously consider whether he has sufficient integrity to continue serving this town as a councillor.

Steve Thogode Caelum Drive, Colchester

  • Hospital stay was extremely positive

I WAS admitted into Colchester hospital on Sunday. The ambulance crew were at my home within five minutes, my experience at Colchester Hospital was a positive one from admittance to discharge.

I know Colchester General Hospital is in special measures but I feel they need this positive press as to ensure people are 
not scared of going to this hospital.

Nicola Caldeira Mile End Road, Colchester

  • I felt sorry for cafe workers

MY wife and I have, for some time, been using the Costa Coffee Culver Square branch in Colchester two or three times a week.

This last week on each visit we have had to queue some 20 minutes to be served. This would appear to be a direct result of the staff reductions.

The shop has two coffee machines but only one can be used due to lack of staff.

This really came to a head on Friday when we visited at 10.15am. 

The two young baristas on duty were working flat out, so much so that it was quite distressing to watch them trying to fulfil all their tasks. 

We waited some 20 minutes, some people said they had waited half an hour.
It is up to the owners to make sure the staffing is adequate and our young people are not overworked.

Norman Bailey
Cambridge Road, Colchester