MAY I say I was very interested to read the letter from C Whittaker in the May 14 issue of the Penarth Times.

In that letter he/she said they welcome the announcement of Clifford Parish that people who put their rubbish out on the wrong day should be prosecuted.

I wonder what C Whittaker would think of the council not doing their job and using some of his/her own words, is that also 'symptomatic of certain elements', is the council either asleep on the job or wilful blindness in responding to taxpayers' pleas and requests.

I myself know that the council used to sweep the lane near me every two weeks, now I've been told by the council (last year) its every three months (if you're lucky).

Locals and shopkeepers near me have been pleading with the council since the start of this year to remove a pile of filthy, rotting rubbish in the lane near me as it was attracting flies. Despite the pleas they fell on deaf ears and despite myself having an article published in this paper on April 9.

Maybe C Williams missed it? Its for certain Mr Parish did. Despite his using the very same organ to announce the price of bin bags, two weeks later, and warning people of the dangers of fly tipping, the very same department that had ignored numerous please to his sanitation department to remove this threat to public health slap bang in the middle of Penarth.

It's nice to know that whilst the council can waste money on a 'cresta run' down to the dingle when a more humble path would have done.

We would love to have the streets swept more often and a check on loose, broken paving stones rectified and uneven ones corrected, we have to walk around numerous puddles outside the shops at present every time it rains.

I suggest instead of wasting money on follies and things no one asked for, and try providing a proper service first, instead of 'flights of fancy' at present.

D Dolby

Address supplied