The results of the Wiltshire Council consultation showed that the vast majority of the electorate voted in favour of a three-month suspension of the collection of green waste, from January to March.

Now Conservative-run Wiltshire Council failed to take this into account and have decided to make further cuts to the green waste collection by charging £40 per year for a service that up to now has been free. They claim this will generate £800,000 in extra income by reducing the staff by 20 operators and five bin lorries.

I can’t help but wonder if they have taken into account the cost of waste that will now be dumped in the countryside when this charge comes in.

Also the many voters who will be unable to take the green waste to the recycling centres. I very much doubt it. Maybe it will not be cleared.

This decision has made a mockery of the consultation process (how much did this cost the voters?) when the public clearly said they preferred the service to be suspended for three months during the winter.

This is another cut too many. I intend to listen to local residents who were in favour of the three-month suspension.

However, I feel sure that the Conservatives, true to form, will vote for this regardless of the wishes of the electors.

Cllr Helen Osborn, Independent, Wiltshire Council, Trowbridge Lambrok.