The idea that house buyers on new estates should purchase their own wheelie bins is ludicrous. We pay our ever-soaring, inflation-busting council tax to have various services provided, and one of the most important of those services is the disposal of household rubbish.

For it to be disposed of efficiently it needs to be put in a proper receptacle. It was the Council's decision to introduce wheelie bins in place of the old-fashioned, inexpensive dustbins, partly as a way of cutting the cost of refuse collection and partly because it wanted a uniform look throughout the district.

If it wants householders to have them, it should provide them - whether it be the first wheelie bin for all refuse or the second one which the authority has decided it is desirable for many households to have to fit in with its recycling policy. If householders have to fund their own bins, what will be next? Provide your own street lamp?

The Council decided, at a meeting held behind closed doors, to end the policy of free wheelie bins for new homes after providing almost 200,000 of them.

Yet this is the authority which, through its Unitary Development Plan, is encouraging the building of homes throughout the district which will considerably increase its council-tax take. How can it then turn round and say: "If you want us to collect your rubbish, spend £22 on your own wheelie bin"?

It must not be forgotten that when these bins were introduced the authority insisted on spending £18,000 on gold crests for them. How many wheelie bins would that have bought?