RICHARD Bridge (Letters, June 26) incorrectly claims that Labour is prioritising adult social care over litter bins – the truth is that Labour is cutting both.
Under Labour’s recommended changes, 350 dog and litter bins are to be removed from our streets while, at the same time, financial support is being withdrawn from residents with so-called moderate care needs.
This group of residents includes older people, people with learning disabilities and the disabled.
Labour has choices as to where to spend money. The Liberal Democrat group believes it is wrong to give the Labour leader a £1 million personal slush fund; wrong to pour money into providing free wi-fi in the city centre; and wrong to spend £3,000 a week on a temporary member of staff.
This money would be better spent on providing the frontline services – whether it is bins, social care or schools – residents say they need and value.
Removing this number of bins without any prior discussion with councillors or residents is a bad decision. Liberal Democrats across York will fight to reverse it.
Coun Carol Runciman, Liberal Democrat group leader, Earswick Chase, York.
• IF I may just add my thoughts to the removal of the bins across York, I am from Woodthorpe and work at the post office on Moorcroft Road.
A couple of months ago, the local Scout group had a fundraising day running a raffle, tombola, cooking hot dogs and burgers etc, in front of the shops, and at the same time the Scouts dug out the flower beds and replanted with plants and compost etc donated by businesses along the row.
Now along come the council and remove more than a third of the bins across our ward, and guess where the rubbish is going? Correct, in the flower beds and surrounding area.
The Scouts must be wondering what on earth the point was. And is the council going to pay for road sweepers every week, because if our one small part of York is anything to go by, that’s how often they will be needed.
Barbara Burn, Stonethwaite, Woodthorpe, York.
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