Regarding recent letters concerning foxes and bin bags, I have no problem with the use of bin bags and think the simple bag and food waste bin system operated here in Southend is excellent. I seldom use a black bin liner these days I would certainly be against the introduction of wheelie bins, which I would regard as a retrograde step and end up with wheelie bins parked everywhere “littering” our streets. By comparison, a few ripped bin bags is a small price to pay.

Wheelie bins are fine if residents have somewhere to put them between collection days, but many terraced houses and flats do not, either lacking space at the rear or unable to move them through the property.

So, they are placed in front gardens, making the streets look like a mini council tip.

A few weeks ago, I went to Cambridge where they have a wheelie bin system of various colours. Walking down one street of old terraced properties, there was just enough front garden to get three bins across the front of the house between the door and the dividing garden wall.

In some cases they would probably have needed to go out on to the pavement. So what could have been a pleasant street scene of gardens and old brick houses was instead converted to an eyesore of battered and discoloured bins as far as the eye could see. Do we want that in the Southend area? I think not.

If food waste is placed in the blue bin then there is no attraction for foxes or for that matter cats that are equally responsible.

Mike Hansford
Blenheim Chase
Leigh