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After all this time in the council Jean has still not learnt how to find a reverse gear to avoid political humiliation, bless.

This is the reason why she has to go now. Does she not realise that she was elected to carry out our wishes not her own hidden egenda. She is a bully and only likes to listen to her own stupid voice. To make a sttement like she has shows that she does not care about anyone else but herself. Even the goverment experts have said that weekly collections are the right way, but Fook knows best. She has to go now. Someone put her in one of the wheelie bins and recycle her.

Quite right Andy. She is acting like a bully, it's my way or no way. Well Fooks like Thatcher you are on your way out. You can not dictate what we do, this is not Russia or China. We should all pile our rubbish in her garden and let her recycle it, even better if she was at the bottom of it. She has got to go now.

Why is it SO HARD for you all just to recycle? Simply put recyclable material in the boxes provided, and you won't have any problems. Do you not care one bit about the environment?

Farris..why do people like you think we are against recycling. WE ARE NOT, what we are against is a policy that is being forced ipon us that does not work. For some it may but it does not for everyone. Unfortunalty Fooks can not think like this. She is right and everyone else is wrong. Fortnightly collections will not suit eveyone, even goverment advisors has stated this, but Fooks is the No one expert in everything and what she says goes.That is why she has to go now.

We do recycle everything possible. We do abide by the rules. But we don't want to have to store non-recyclable refuse for up to 2 weeks = particularly as the weather gets warmer. We don't have a car and so cannot deal with the problem ourselves. The new system will collapse as a result of public health issues. And I, for one, will not vote for any candidate who supports this new system. If we all did that, we might actually get somewhere.

Simon is right it does not work for everybody especially in a city like ours with lots of different housing. That is the whole point - it may be successful elsewhere but there are different circumstances and different systems. Most of us are strongly in support of recycling and do everything we can but consider that there are problems with this scheme and we keep being misrepresented.

Taxes go up and public services are halved: that is the nett effect of Fook's World. In Germany and France where the local taxes are lower than in the UK and a **** of a lot lower than Oxford, refuse is collected twice a week so householders do not need a lot of space to store their rubbish and they find it easier to segregate. In Germany, the recycling rate is extremely high. As my brother-in-law found out when lived there, your neighbours are quite likely to tell you off if you put things in the wrong containers! So more frequent, smaller collections with ONE vehicle are the way forward and this is where Fooks and others have gone badly wrong.

I see that the world H-E-L-L got asterisked in my previous posting so I just thought I would type in its opposite as in Heaven to see if that gets ******'d too! It seems strange that in an academic place such as Oxford, it might not be possible to have an religious debate on the Oxford Mail website!!

This warm weekend, just two weeks into the scheme, is a worrying sign of things to come. All over East Oxford in multiple occupancy (and some family) properties there are already piles of rubbish bags and overspilling bins. They look foul and smell worse, and are a target for foxes and casual vandals. It can only get worse as spring advances. Read the signs OCC: For crowded housing conditions and flats, the wheelie bins are inadequate, fortnightly collection is inadequate, and the resulting piles of rubbish are unacceptable. Or is this, for Ms Rook, just what lower income areas must put up with?

Although this scheme doesn't suit some, it does suit alot, even if Jean Fooks does resign do you really think the council will change this idea in a hurry, yes she is the front of it all, but there would have been several councillors who would have OK'd this before it went live. Jean Fooks is a bit of a scape goat for it all, she would neither have the complete power to impliment things, and also she wouldn't have it to take away. People are forgetting there would have been some kind of democratic vote between councillors, with a majority voting 'YES' to it!!!

I am pleased to see that Cllr. Fooks has now recognised that this must be a public heath issue. [bold]“Although Mrs Fooks dismissed a return to weekly collections of non-recyclable waste she said the city council ultimately wanted to introduce a separate collection solely for compostable food waste. This, she claimed, would alleviate bad smells and dangers posed by rotting food”.[/bold] We have been told that we will have to wait 18months/2years for a collection of food waste. What do we do in the meantime as we walk past putrefying rubbish in front gardens stored in wheelie bins and plastic bags, wear face masks?

I live in a 5 adult shared house with one bin, and we cope fine. We recycle garden waste, cardboard, glass, tins, plastic and paper. There is hardly anthing left for the bin. The wheeled bin is sealed and therefore not a health risk. Stop moaning and start recycling. If we can do it, so can you.

Bella...you do talk rubbish.You must eat out a lot if five adults can cope with one bin every fortnight!

Andy and Kevin calling Jean a bully. A bit rich I think. At least she is trying to do something positive for our City rather just sniping like a child. I have seen more mature comment from 5 year- olds in the playground.

I wondered how long it would be for Fooks lap dog would comment. She is acting like a bully by forcing this issue on to residents against their wishes. She does not listen to others, like a bully, she thinks she is right all the time, like a bully, If she said aafter 3 months we will review the situation and if I am wrong then we will change back to weekly collection she might get more respect, but she thinks she is god.So Brett forcing something onto someone that they don't want is being positive is it????

So Tony, we are not allowed to complain then?? You are now acting like a bully . What must we all do, bow down to her like you do and thank her? I am not against recycling but I am against people like Fooks who forces this upon me without even knowing my circumstances. Why will she not listen?

There is one other problem with the new system. You cannot obtain further supplies of the purple bags. We have no way of housing a wheelie bin and so have to rely on the purple bags. But if we use them all up, we will not be entitled to receive more until the next batch is allocated. Rubbish not in purple bags will not be collected (according to the people I spoke with at the council). What is supposed to happen then? Store all non-recyclable rubbish for months? This has not been thought through - at all.

Simon..there are many other problems as well, but do not expect any help from the council while Fooks is in control of this. A neighbour up the street asked for the purple bags and was only given 4.When asked for more she was refused. So now there are purple and black bags out, but the black bags will be left there for ever because they will not be picked up. Yep this will certainly encourage people to recycle.

Kevin, I am not talking rubbish, I am talking the truth. We cope because we care about the environment and don't buy stupid amounts of packaging. As I said, we recycle almost everything. The only thing in our bin is plastic wrapping and food scraps. IT CAN BE DONE. Stop buying so much waste and think carefully about what you throw away. Stop bullying Jean. The Council made this decision, and should be applauded for it

Poor Jean. You shouldn't all be so personally abusive towards this sadly misguided woman. She is after all only slavishly following a government Diktat. Since she doesn't see her role as representing us then we must do it ourselves and campaign to the government! It does show that local councillors are a complete irrelevance these days! It's not Jean "who is not for turning" it's her political masters.

Bella..The point is not everyone is the same. You going to tell parents with 4 kids what they must buy? It's the food indusrty you want to have a go at about the amount of packaging.So you buy all your food without packaging then? So we have to applaud the council for making stupid decisions then? Suppose we should applaud the council for the great job they done with cornamrket as well then?

Bella - I agree, if people bought less packaged food, it would be easier, I have started using re-usable bags so I no longer need plastic carrier bags, I'm a single working mum, and I can do it so there is no excuse. As i said previously it takes more than one person to vote for something to happen.

C, 013-751....So if it works for you then it must work for everone else. No excuses then if it works for you everyone can do it. Would you like to share your wisdom on what else we are doing wrong as you are so perfect.

Why is it that when Bullies are challenged they always call the person doing the challenging a bully?

Quire right Tony!!!..We challenge Fooks about being a bully and we are called bullies.We challenge you and you call us bullies.

I live in a household of 6 people and we are getting on with the new scheme just fine. Jean Fooks is not a bully, surely the people hounding her to resign are. This scheme works brilliantly all over the country. It may be less convenient but it is the complacency of Oxfordshire residents that is the real problem. Any reason to kick up a fuss. Global warming anyone?

Didn't say I was perfect, I said I could do it, I have children, I have a full time job, I buy the best food i can for my children, I recycle, have energy saving lightbulbs, re-usable bags, and a very low income, and all the other factors people are using as excuses, I have had a fortnightly collection now since November and so far I have not had a problem with it!! I am doing my best with the situation I have been given. why pick on those who thinks it works for them!!!

[quote][bold]Kevin[/bold] wrote: Bella...you do talk rubbish.You must eat out a lot if five adults can cope with one bin every fortnight![/quote] Kevin, How do you know? Maybe bella and her housemates just buy unpackaged food, and cook properly. There's a lot of sanctimonious "You don't know how I live/how hard it is for our family to recylce" stuff spouted by those moaning about the new regime, but then you don't apply the same standards to those who do like the new regime - /You/ don't know how they live, and how they make it easy on themselves to make one bin take five adults' waste. It's quite easy to generate less waste, by buying less of it in the first place.

Grace..you sound so stupid. Please show me evidence that the scheme is working brilliantly all over the country?? I didn't know you knew so many people! The fact is it is NOT working everywhere because each property ,place, residents are all different. It will work in some places and others it will not. All we are asking is for Fooks to admit that, but she won't. There are many councils reverting back to weekly collections. They have addmitted their mistakes and put right the situation. There is no chance of Fooks doing that.

it is not hard to care for the environment.but it will be hard to live with the smell.that will come in the summer months

C of Oxford..You have picked on people for whom the system does not work, pot calling the kettle black ring a bell?? We are not saying you are wrong for yourself but do not critise people because it does not work for them.

It seems to me that the evidence that this scheme is not working is being denied. Wonderful that it is working for people like Grace, Bella and C. But it is not working where I live. We recycle as much as we can in our family. But in our street people are having problems with this scehme and it is a disgusting mess that we have to live in. MP pointed out that there is such mess in east Oxford which is where we live and this is so true. A trip over here will reveal this. Bags are all over the pavement with rubbish spilling out. The area is full of houses of multiple occupation and different housing. I don't know the circumstances of these people and would not want to accuse them of being lazy or not buying food without packaging. Am I moaning because I am concerned about public health? Please do not deny the evidence that there is a stinking filthy mess creeping over the city that seems to me, and indeed to experts, to be a health hazzard.

There may be a lot of rubbish and mess in some parts of Oxford, but it has NOTHING to do with frequency of collection and EVERYTHING to do with selfish people failing to use council services properly and just dumping their rubbish whenever and wherever they want. It's temping to blame student households and mutil-occs but that's just a Daily Mail-style simplification. People (thankfully not many) from all walks of life will inevitably be lazy and not bother to be careful with their rubbish. THAT is the problem that needs tackling.

Tony..please explain to me how you know it has nothing to do with the frequency of the collections??? Do you live in all those houses?? Who are these selfish people that will not bow down to Fooks.I would expect some of that rubbish is over a week old, so if it had been collected weekly it would not be there now!! The problem that needs tackling is Fooks arrogance that she is the only person that knows best.

I am surprised at your comment Tony Brett. How do you know it is nothing to do with fortnightly collections? Of course there was rubbish left out before but the point is it has now doubled! Not only is it a health hazzard it is also causing problems of access. People with disabilities and people with children in buggies have difficult getting round it. UNfortunately it is the multi-occs that are causing the problem in my street. Nothing to do with the Daily Mail just a fact!

I've been following this brouhaha with interest, since I actually live in Aylesbury Vale DC who do our refuse collection, so forgive me for not knowing the minutiae of the OCC plan. Question: Do people on the new regime automatically get wheelie bins? Our collection routine is weekly, with every-two-week recyling collecitons. However, we have the smallest wheelie bin, and it's never more than half full - so twice weekly would present us with no problems, and even with a baby on the way we will be fine with washable nappies. In fact we have more recycling than waste, and would prefer wheelie bins for those, rather than small plastic crates.

Please tell me how this going to work. Apparently this scheme is to be implemented at Rose Hill in the near future. We live in a block of six flats, each flat (on average) is occupied by three people. We have one bin store into whch we can just about fit six bins plus some assorted refuse bags. The bin store in usually full within 4 days. Presumably our galvanised dustbins will be replaced by the larger wheely bins and by recycling boxes. Eh! Where are they going to be put? The bin store won't be big enough. Oh! I see we leave them on the road then? Where exactly ? If the bin store is full after four days then it will be overflowing after six days. The council say that bins will be emptied on two week cycles ? Do they know what reality is?

The reason boxes are used rather than a second wheelie bin is that so much contamination (ordinary waste placed in the recycling wheeled bins) has occurred in other areas - whole lorry loads of recycling materials are having to go to landfill. Some of the contamination is accidental but much is deliberate as people work the system to still get a weekly collection of general waste. If someone could point out just how it is environmentally friendly to house general waste for a fortnight with the associated problems which you can all look forward to: smells, flies, maggots and rats - I would be pleased to hear your comments. Recycling is necessary but so is weekly collection of putrescible waste. 11 councils have realised this and hopefully more will follow their lead.

[quote][bold]Tony Brett[/bold] wrote: Why is it that when Bullies are challenged they always call the person doing the challenging a bully?[/quote] You tell me, Tony, you're always the one throwing your weight around with snide and nasty comments whenever somebody doesn't agree with you. Which is often, given your apparent disposition for lending your support to any unreasonable viewpoint.

John, Rosehill - I to live in a block of flats just like yours, flats are classed as exempt to recycling, as there are usually public ones close by (I'm not 100% that is the case for everyone)we have one large wheely bin for each flat, so effectively we have 6 of them outside, although I think 1/2 big biffa bins would have been better, and probably quicker for the binmen to empty. It's an answer, but whether it is the one you are looking for i don't know, hope it helps.

I agree with Tony. The reason there are problems are because people are lazy. If you looked in their black bin bags you'd find paper, card, plastic, plastic bags, glass and tins that can all be recycled.

Do these people calling for weekly collections realise how much it would cost? I for one would rather see my taxes going on something more constructive. Those people arguing about the 'health concerns' should be campaigning for food waste recycling collections, not more waste collections

Diane..We are not asking for more collections we are asking for what we already had. ie weekly collections. With your theory we should be having a tax rebate.

It is fortunate or unfortunately depends on which way you look at it that there is no local election this May... I am sure that if there were the current administration would not be forcing unwanted policies on the people of Oxford... Let us not forget that the current administrations time in power is going to be short lived as thay are now down to 16 councillors, 8 short of a majority and only one third of the entire seats available (48). Let us also not forget that one of the major factors that the people of Oxford voted Lib Dem in 2005 was for the simple reason they were anti-war, an issue that they had no control over and that we as citizens of Oxford are now suffering for.... Turkeys voting for Christmas comes to mind!

This is hilarious - thanks for the laughs. Let's see if I can sum up. 1. Andy says Jean Fooks is a bully because she was elected to carry out "our" wishes, but she doesn't. Andy then goes on to make it clear that what he really means is that she's a bully because she won't carry out Andy's wishes. 2. Kevin agrees that Jean is a bully because she's saying "it's my way or no way". Kevin also goes on to make it clear that "It's Andy and Kevin's way or you're a bully". 3. Andy once again illustrates how to bully people with his statement "...people like you..." - because anyone who disagrees with him is some kind of weirdo, obviously. 4. Both Andy and Kevin supply further illustrations of their "I'm right and you're not and if you argue you're a bully" attitude with: - Kevin : "Bella...you do talk rubbish" - Andy : "...Fooks lap dog..." 5. Kevin gives a brilliant illustration of the hypocrisy of his position by stating "So Tony, we are not allowed to complain then?? You are now acting like a bully" - because anyone who doesn't agree with an opposing argument is a bully and is clearly saying you're not allowed to make that argument in the first place. Anyone except Kevin and Andy, naturally. 6. Andy gives a lovely example of a "straw man" argument, implying that anyone who _does_ use council services properly is "bowing down to Fooks". 7. Andy goes on to illustrate the meaning of the word "hypocrisy" once again, stating because it's arrogant to think you know best when you disagree with Andy because Andy knows best. Sound about right? And for what it's worth, I agree that the system is not right for everyone and there needs to be some flexibility - what we don't need to do is throw out the entire idea just because it won't suit everyone. As long as there is assistance available for people who genuinely cannot cope with the new scheme, what's the problem?

Completely agree Roger.

Roger - what do you think you're doing, putting some accuracy into this baying mob of disgruntlement? You know it will just end in tears! Anyway, spot on!

Perfectly put Roger, totally agree, the system the needs work, but lets have some constructive suggestions not just the bullying!!!

Well put Roger! The fact is that this new scheme is not going to change anytime soon, so let's all give it a chance and see if we can make it work rather than just automatically dismissing it out of hand.

My goodness - an outbreak of common sense! Whatever next...

Is a serious debate about such a vital service impossible? In 2007 we, as a country, can no longer afford to collect perishable waste once a week, it seems, whereas in many parts of Europe they manage daily collections or every other day. Their recycling rates far exceed ours so who is right? It is true to say that losing a weekly collection actually puts people off recycling and with the additional threats of fines some are too frightened to attempt to do the right thing. Recycling - YES but turning our homes into mini-landfill sites - NO!

Can I suggest we also need to consider the CO2 emmisions of the trucks that collect the rubbish? Recycling is a good step forward for oxfordshire in the fight against global warming, perhaps we should be considering the impact of collections too?

Instead of one lorry collection our waste today, we had three!!! No wonder collections have had to go fortnightly.

Why are we on fortnightly if it is just means we need more trucks once a fortnight, instead of less trucks once a week!!??

Jan: You are so right. My friend from Germany could not believe what we are doing here in the name of recycling. She can recycle every article that has a recycling mark on it and she also has a weekly collection of other waste. The Germans like most other sensible Europeans would not stand for this type of unhygienic scheme. Councils for years having done nothing to encourage recycling hence the rush to introduce madcap schemes such as this.

Well done Roger, fully agree!

[quote][bold]Tony Brett[/bold] wrote: My goodness - an outbreak of common sense! Whatever next...[/quote] Tony, you are such a prat. Get back under Fooks' desk. I can only hope the smell is better than Cowley at the moment!

To the contributer above me, can we please remember how to have a proper debate and stop the abuse and bullying!! Just because you do not agree, does not make somebody wrong!!

Anonymous name-calling is neither big nor clever. If you choose to keep your identity to yourself then perhaps you'd do us all a favour and do the same with your comments.

Don't slate all us Anon's tony, I was defending you!!

[quote][bold]Tony Brett[/bold] wrote: Anonymous name-calling is neither big nor clever. If you choose to keep your identity to yourself then perhaps you'd do us all a favour and do the same with your comments.[/quote] Butbutbut Tony, I simply can't reveal my identity because I'm such a spineless twit, and I can only spew out my brainless drivel if I hide my name. You don't really expect me to take responsibility for my posts do you?! That would mean I'd have to be all adult and everything, and I don't have the cojones for that!

And putting a first name only is sooooo brave and makes rude and ignorant comments like those from 'Kevin' so much more valid!!

I hope I am not going to offend anyone but I am not sure that some of these comments are very constructive. We seem to have moved off the debate and this may put people off contributing.

So Cllr Fooks "ain't for turnin'" FOOKS FOOKS FOOKS. OFF! OFF! OFF!

Andy, What kind of evidence am I meant to show you? Pie charts?! I'm simply voicing my opinion like you, there is not necessarily a right or wrong answer here. You didn't know I knew so many people? Sorry, when did we get to know each other inthe first place? Yes I know quite a lot of people who the scheme works for in other areas of the country where the scheme has been operating for over 2 years. I'm not saying it works for everyone but a lot of the people it could work for are dismissing it because it is more hassle. Of course there are teething problems as with any change to routine, they just take some getting used to.

Grace: It probably will work just liked it was working in Cherwell 10th August 2006 when it was reported in the Oxford Mail that residents were complaining of maggots and smells. [bold] Mrs Fooks said: "I have asked council officers whether we should consider trying to do weekly collections during the hot weather, but I am told it would be a very expensive thing to do. The answer I have received so far is that it's not possible financially, so it's not looking good at the moment but I am well aware of the problems."[/bold] It seems that Cllr. Fooks would rather forget this. Much better to let the residents suffer with filth and stinking rubbish.

I am worried about the reduction of refuse collection to only once a fortnight - far less than operates in most European countries. I think it is bound to pose problems of smell and vermin. As for these fines, they are outrageous! There is no way that I could use a wheelie bin at my house as it could not go up and down the garden steps, and the pavement is so narrow it would entirely block the way. Nevertheless, I will have to contribute to the huge cost of providing them. I already compost and recycle all I can, but neither of those things make fortnightly collections adequate.

[quote][bold]Tony Brett[/bold] wrote: Anonymous name-calling is neither big nor clever. If you choose to keep your identity to yourself then perhaps you\'d do us all a favour and do the same with your comments.[/quote] Hello Tony. Is it true that Jean lives in the same street as these toilets? http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/display.var.1252097.0.toilets_closed_for_good.php

John,Yes it is true she lives in the same street! In response to the bin problem,I was cycling through Cripley road today and noticed the wheelie bins all along the pavement,it looked awfull!Goodness know's how elderly people or mum's with prams get past them,the bins took up the whole pavement.[/bold]Whatever next?[/bold]

Jean Fooks demonstates why people have nothing but contempt for politicians. She is showing noithing but arrogant contempt for the local community and should not only be kicked out of office, she should be kicked off the council. Other councils have heeded the wishes of their local communities and either reverted back to weekely or retained weekly. This has nothing top do with recycling, which is about putting the right rubbish in the right bin, it has everything to do with cutting services, cutting costs. With a warmer climate, we should be thinking of moving to twice weekly collection. The policies being pushed by this arrogant woman, quite literally, stink!

Keith, how do you suggest we fund twice weekly collections? Will you be here complaining when your council tax bill rises, I will!! The point here is that in this country we are all arrogant when it comes to the effect of our actions on the global warming situation. It is our governements responsibility to protect our world for future generations. for decades they have encouraged us to share this responsibility, they now must force us. If you you compost and use local recycling facilities once fortnightly collections will be enough. This is the point, it will force us to be responsible if we do not want the bad smells and problems caused by rotting rubbish. Your ignorance shows in your suggestion to move to twice weekly, have you thought of the effect of the extra CO2 emisissions from the trucks?

Under the new scheme we have 2 trucks going round every week anyway! So I don't understand your point. Please don't say that if people recycle properly and compost they will not need more collections. Many of us do this and still need weekly collections of household waste. It depends on your family circumstances. Besides pest control experts have strongly advised against food composting especially with fortnightly collections. Come to east oxford and see the mess this system has created. It is filthy and squalid. There has to be a better way to solve this problem.

Yesterday which was tuesday, I had to go and pick my daughter up from an after school function. walking down my street I saw several of those horrible green bins out on the street already for wednesdays pick up and also saw more black bags besides them...so really nothing in my street has changed they are still placing extra black bags out the night before so that the nice vermin and foxes can tear them open and leave an unsightly mess here. so on the strength of this I'd say no this scheme is not working right now, no matter what ms fooks says. I also have a shared house across the way from me and I saw their horrible green bin overflowing with black bags and white shopping bags in it as well.

However diligently we recycle there still remains putrifying rotting rubbish such as uneaten pet and human food, sanitary wear, disposable nappies, ashtray contents, fish and meat wrappers, etc. These items cannot be placed in any of the recycling boxes, and when allowed to sit around for two weeks in any receptacle, be it a wheelie or a lilac sack, they become a health hazard to all of us, and a delight for vermin. Oxford is (or was) a beautiful city, famed throughout the world for its historic buildings and parks. Who - from health conscious, clean cities - is going to wish to visit a city dominated by stinking rubbish and hundreds of thousands of plastic bins and boxes? Other countries recycle far more than we do and yet they have schemes in place that are equally as focused on health and hygeine as on the need to recycle. We used to have ten collections per month in the centre of Oxford (four rubbish, four green box and two green sack). We now only have eight (two rubbish, two green box, two blue box, two garden sacks). Why would it cost more than before to have the same number of collections as then, which would be the case if weekly rubbish collections were introduced? It is said that fortnightly collections force people into recycling more, but looking around Oxford now, at the bulging bins and side waste around so many of the wheelies, it is difficult to see that this is the case.

Stupid British people! In France they collect your bins three times a week and not just twice. For each collection day there is a different colored bin and the bins the council provides are not smaller than the British ones.

I can't believe this is happening. Surely we will all get ill in the summer. Even if we only produce one small bag of rotting stuff in a fortnight this is enough to smell terrible - ever found one rotting potato in a bag of spuds? Unbelievable! It is not the amount we produce, it is the horrible odours it will produce.

I live in Bicester and we have had fortnightly bin collections here for over a year now. From my experience it does seem to work ok, except in the Summer when the bins can get quite smelly!

Belated response to Jenny (posted 4:46pm Tue 13 Mar 07). You do not cut corners with public health. If in the 19th century, people took the same attitude as you, we would still have opens sewers, rubbish would be left rotting in the street. It would seem Jean Fooks wishes to take us back to those days. The World Health Organisation recommends that in a temperate climate such as ours we collect rubbish at least once a week. If it gets warmer, then it follows we will have to do as they in France and Spain and collect our rubbish 2-3 times a week. It is not a trade off between public health, CO2 emissions and recycling. Recycling is being used as an excuse to cut services. Recycling is about putting the right refuse in the right bin, it has nothing to do with how frequent we collect our rubbish. They have more frequent refuse collections in France and achieve higher recycling rates. Yes we need to encourage people to recycle more, to home compost, to cut down on waste. But we should also be targetting supermarkets for their excessive packaging, not punishing householders for a problem outside of their control. Refuse collection lorries do not have to be powered by fossil fuels. They can be powered by the output of bio-gas digesters into which we feed our municipal waste. And if we are concerned with the cost of moving to collections more frequent than once a week, which for public health reasons we may be forced to do, then the conclusion to be drawn from this concern with cost is that fortnightly collection is as everyone else can see, a cost cutting exercise. Jenny is more than welcome to take a peek into my two wheelie bins. She will be surprised to find that they are almost empty, but I still wish to see a weekly collection. The reason my bins are almost empty, is that I generate very little waste. All that can be is reused. All green waste, including kitchen waste, goes onto the compost heap. As does paper and biodegradable packaging. I suggest Jenny pays a visit to Aldershot, which comes under the Rotten Borough of Rushmoor, as it is known locally. Rushmoor has the counterpart to Jean Fooks, Councillor Roland Dibbs who displays the same arrogant contempt for the local community as does Jean Fooks, and who hopefully will be kicked off the Council at the May local elections. Were Jenny to walk down streets in Aldershot which have fortnightly collection, she would find these streets strewn with rubbish and the stench unbearable,and yet it is not yet summer. If Jenny does not wish to visit Aldershot, and who can blame her as the place is a dump, then I suggest she pays a visit to http://www.indymedia.org.uk/ and searches on 'rubbish' or 'Rotten Borough of Rushmoor' or checks out http://www.thetruthinrushmoor.co.uk/ Fooks must go, as one contributer suggested when he wrote the appropriate Fooks Off! How much extra CO2 emissions, if everyone travels to a central point (or more likely fly-tips) to get rid of their excess waste, compared with kerbside collections? Ignorance, as they say Jenny, is bliss.

Jenny does not need to visit Aldershot Keith, she can walk around Oxford - in Jericho or Cowley, or down the Botley Road, anywhere densely populated with terraced houses or flats . There are heaps of binliners, open wheelie bins with three or four sacks bulging out of the top, rubbish sacks that have been torn open by animals with rotting food strewn over front gardens. The weather has warmed this week and the horrible smells have started. This is just the beginning.

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