"Use your vote to make council listen on fortnightly bin collections" - Brooks

3.12.17pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 31st May 2008

Voters should use a by-election on 3rd July to send a message to the Conservative-run council about the switch to fortnightly bin collections, says Liberal Democrat campaigner Oliver Brooks.

"The election of one councillor won't change who runs the council, with 53 out of 63 councillors being Conservatives, but it will send them a message they will have to listen to" said Oliver Brooks.

And he seems to have an unusual ally. According to the Daily Mail in an article headed 'The myth that fortnightly rubbish collections encourage recycling', David Cameron has 'urged voters to use their muscle to ensure councils listen to the public on rubbish collection'. Mr Cameron said: "It should be a matter for local people to decide through the ballot box"

Oliver Brooks said: "For many people all they regularly see in exchange for paying their Council Tax is their weekly bin collection, and many are worried that a fortnightly collection will lead to maggot and rat infestations.

"On 3rd July local residents will get the chance to send the Council the message that 'enough is enough' by electing a Liberal Democrat councillor to represent them."