I am incensed as a council taxpayer at this latest waste of public money, and my telephone bill, (specifically the repeated calls I have made and been kept on hold for 15 minutes).

My rubbish will yet again have to be collected separately tomorrow because, as is more usual than not, it was not collected today.

Surprisingly, the dustmen, who call to rectify the mistake each time, don't have any problem finding my bin.

I cannot be the only disabled person in the borough having such a problem.

My rubbish has only been collected once this year on the correct day by the team working in this area and then the bin was thrown up the alley on its side with the lid thrown elsewhere.

To help minimise any inconvenience to the dustman, my rubbish is always in a black sack in the bin, with a clear notice on the unlocked gate, so all it requires is for the dustman to walk two extra yards through the gate.

Before I moved here I ascertained the arrangements for assisted collection and confirmed it when I moved in on October 9.

I was prepared to put up with the spasmodic collection for the first few months.

In November it improved slightly, so when the dustbin man called to wish me a Merry Christmas on December 19, 2001, I naturally gave him a Christmas box.

I also jokingly asked him if he'd emptied the bin and was assured that it had been done.

Of course it had not, so to prevent me being left in rubbish for the Christmas holiday one council official collected my rubbish in his car boot on the evening of December 20.

I think this has gone far enough. I have been assured by Council staff that it would be sorted out but I no longer believe it.

I hope this matter will speedily be resolved.

Mrs Jansen

Wickham Road

Shirley