Interactive: Action is needed now on the high cost of refuse collection

Tel: 0131 620 8692

SO JENNY Dawe has finally recognised that Edinburgh's refuse collection costs are ridiculously high compared to other Scottish councils (News, 13 January). They are even worse when you compare them with English urban councils. It is just a pity that her choice is to wait at least another year to do something about it through her "alternative business models" exercise.

I have called on numerous occasions for this service to be market tested to see whether there are options for a better service at a lower cost. This could be a private contractor but could also, like our recycling collections, be a non-profit organisation.

I would also welcome a bid from the in-house team. What is important is that the final contract would be at the best price and under quality conditions that the council tax payer would want.

I first highlighted this problem during the time of the previous Labour administration on the council who even contemplated a tendering exercise at one stage before getting cold feet.

It is the dogma of Labour, followed by the Lib Dems and their allies the SNP that has blocked action that would benefit Edinburgh residents.

Like on so many other things Jenny Dawe has just carried on where Labour left off. She has already wasted two and a half years pouring our money down the drain on a service that is no longer delivering the quality we deserve. We need action now not in a further year's time.

Iain Whyte, Conservative Councillor for Inverleith Ward

Milkman is truly cream of the crop

I WOULD like to give a massive thank you to Chris Symonds who has been my milkman for the last 29 years and who despite the horrendous conditions over the last four weeks never once missed a milk delivery to my house.

I was amazed to find the milk on the doorstep each morning as I cannot imagine how he got his milk float through the ungritted streets. Also my grateful thanks to my postman, who arrived daily on foot and was always cheerful.

Jayne Hunter, High Buckstone, Edinburgh

Give us a refund for work not done

I LIVE in Broomhouse and our bins have not been emptied since Wednesday 30 December 2009. Over the last two days I have watched seven bin lorries drive along my street. If they can drive along the street at a normal speed, surely they can stop and empty the bins? The pavements have all been gritted at least once, some twice.

Are the bin men who refuse to work having their salary docked? Will residents who have not had the services they pay for receive a refund in their council tax?

Samantha Thomson, Broomhouse Place North, Edinburgh

Left out in cold by heating threshold

WHILE standing in a queue at a supermarket I heard a conversation that two women were having about the weather.

One told the other that she got 25 a week as long as the temperature was below zero, so she was quite happy with the weather the way it was.

The other woman stated that she did not get this money because her husband's works pension took him above the threshold by 1.

I was happy to hear that the heating allowance was getting through to those who need it, but is the threshold not too low? It would appear for the sake of having 1 too much one woman was not getting this money although her heating would still need to be used in this cold snap.

We are being warned that many people will succumb to hypothermia and they are being told to turn up the heating and not to worry about the heating bill. It would appear some elderly people still have to worry about the high bills because they still cannot afford to heat their houses properly.

Andrew Murphy, Royal Mile, Edinburgh

Forth Ports shows little commitment

IT IS obvious that the reason for the proposed power station smoke stack development is due to the credit crunch and the collapse of the property market and the ends that Forth Ports will go to make a profit. So much for their commitment to Leith and the environment.

John Arthur, Craigmillar Castle Road, Edinburgh