Sir, – I have been waiting since about mid-January for Richmondshire District Council to provide some information about how it intends to solve the problem it created by leaving 289 properties in the rural areas having to take their refuse etc considerable distances to so-called 'lane ends’ as a result of the alternate week collection system.

Ignoring these disadvantaged people/properties does not mean the problem has disappeared.

However, since that date the council went to the expense of conducting a survey of the persons owning such properties affected by this nonsensical arrangement. We have yet to hear the result of such a survey or is it so damming that it will be too embarrassing to publish.

I often wonder what these executive officers are actually paid to do and never complete such initiatives they dream up. I was perhaps the 290th person affected by the lane-end fiasco, but I was prepared to jump through as many hoops needed to overcome this stupid policy arrangement.

Anyone still affected should make an appeal to the council and also write to the Local Government Ombudsman Ms Anne Seex, Beverly House, 17, Shipton Road, York YO30 5FZ.

Fortunately, I won my appeal against having to walk half a mile to take my refuse to a lane end, even though my property is on a council maintained road.

To the credit of Coun John Blackie, who was one of the panel which originated the alternate weekly collection policy, he supported me at my appeal and stated quite clearly that it was not the intention of the policy to penalise people in this way.

The panel of Couns Dawson, Thomas, Fryer, Parsons and Chairman Cullen heard my appeal and sensibly decided that refuse collections should be at my property and not the lane end. At least some councillors apply common sense. It was a severe disappointment that Coun Raymond Alderson, who is the Swaledale and Arkengarthdale representative, although knowing of my intended appeal, never offered me any support. I just hope that people in his area remember this type of inaction in the future.

“Working for a better future” may be an attractive slogan but it is something the council has to accomplish for all. So come on Richmondshire. Publish your survey result and put it right for all.

A BUTTERS Skeugh Head Lane, Angram, Richmond.