I FULLY understand the outrage of Rob Tomkins (letters, July 3) regarding the council's decision to reduce the kerbside waste collections from people's homes. The decision to stop tin collections is one by the new Conservative-run council.

When the successful Liberal Democrat budget of 2001 introduced paper and tin kerbside collections to 7,000 households, the Conservatives fully supported our proposals, while Labour voted against it.

In 2002 the Lib Dems proposed extending this to 14,000 houses but it was rejected by both Labour and Tories.

This year Labour proposed in their budget to end tin collection and only collect paper, but from 14,000 households. The Tories supported this proposal as it would help boost the weight of waste collected. From the 7,000 household trial over the past year, 816 tonnes of paper and 44 tonnes of cans were collected.

The Liberal Democrat initiative of kerbside collections has been one of the few Swindon Borough Council success stories of which we should all be proud.

Of course we lag far behind our neighbouring councils of Bath, North Wilts and West Berkshire but then these council are not run by Labour or the Tories!

Later this year the council hopes to open a new recycling centre which will have the capacity to sort the kerbside collection of paper, tin, glass and even plastics through recycling.

But rather than moving forward I am also disappointed that the Tories have decided to abolish the collection of tins from people's homes.

The Liberal Democrats will continue to campaign against the short-sighted approach by Labour and Conservatives, with the aim to re-introduce an enhanced scheme at the next budget meeting in March 2004.

In the meantime unless you are able to take your tin, plastics and bottles to one of the few waste collection sites around the borough, your rubbish will continue to be dumped into landfill at Blunsdon.

(Coun) MICHAEL DICKINSON

Swindon Services