Regarding your article on fly tipping on the Ridgeway and Eldene, I have noticed an increase in the amount of large items ie fridges, sofas and beds being dumped around Swindon. This increase seems to coincide with the council withdrawing their free collection service of up to three large items per household and charging for this service.

I would be interested to hear from the council as to how much this charge has produced in revenue and if it covers the cost of keeping the Ridgeway clean and collecting the dumped items off the street. If not then perhaps if the free collection service was returned then the amount of fly tipping would be reduced.

ANDREW PARKIN

Walcot