AFTER all the encouragement to separate waste and utilise the disposal depots, I duly saved up a number of cardboard boxes, mostly empty, and went along on Saturday, May 6, to the Beckfield Lane, Acomb, unit during the publicised hours for that day of 10am to 2pm.

Imagine my astonishment on my arrival at 1.15pm to be refused admission, as were a number of others, on the grounds the place was full and without space for even the smallest of loads.

I was faced with the choice of returning home and unloading and abandoning my then-intended combined shopping trip (to save fuel and for other eco-friendly purposes) or proceed to another site. I chose not to try the new James Street site and have to travel through the city on a busy Saturday lunchtime, so proceeded to the Strensall site - a considerably longer return journey than originally intended.

Many citizens must have been put to similar inconvenience that day and had the added fuel costs, seemingly brought about by the absence of the most fundamental planning. So much for this council's much-vaunted strategy for waste administration.

W Lumley,

Chairman, Skelton Parish Council,

Pasture Close,

Skelton, York.

Updated: 11:27 Thursday, May 18, 2006