“RATS as big as dogs” ran the headline in the SNJ edition of November 23.

This was about the amount of fly-tipped rubbish in Fawkes Place, Stroud which has attracted vermin.

This can only be as a direct result of the new refuse collections, ie fortnightly collections of refuse.

Now when this was first proposed by Stroud District Council and was mentioned in the SNJ, I did write in and say that people would not be able to cope with fortnightly collections and there would be an increase in fly-tipping as a result.

And so it has come to pass.

Now I was able to make this prediction not as a result of any sixth sense or paranormal ability but purely as a result of common sense and I rather suspect that most people could foresee what would happen with the exception of SDC.

So now we have a mess in the centre of Stroud as a result of this vanity project from Ebley Mill.

I noted that one of the people in the article was quoted as saying “We need some way of stopping this from happening” – referring to the fly-tipping.

I have a very simple solution – weekly refuse collections.

There, I have said it. Now how simple is that? Problem solved.

I will probably be accused of heresy from Ebley Mill for daring to suggest such a thing.

I wish it was as simple as that but it won’t happen since it would involve SDC admitting it has got things wrong and that would never do.

There is a saying – “if it is not broken, don’t fix it” which seems to have passed our council by.

The council has imposed fortnightly refuse collections as a means of meeting recycling collections and targets whilst at the same time totally ignoring the public health aspect of having weekly collections as opposed to fortnightly ones.

The final words I would say to SDC are, using the words of that very great comedian – Oliver Hardy – “This is another fine mess you have got us into”.

Huw Niland

Stroud