I WRITE in response to the allegations made by cllr Nick Peel in The Bolton News, Saturday, March 11

He refers to the points I made at the Astley Bridge Area Forum on Wednesday, March 8, regarding the increase in fly tipping across the town aggravated by the recent switch to new slim bins.

He accuses me of not providing the figures to back up my claims, and that I am irresponsible. Quite honestly I don’t need statistics to show that we are being buried in a deluge of fly tipping and litter fouling. Furthermore I question his figures which claim a 40% reduction in fly tipping since the slim bin launch, these figures conveniently only released on Friday, March 10, refer to the period of time 2014/2015 to 2015/2016. The slim bins were rolled out from June 20, 2016, so hardly a like for like comparison.

I am also led to believe that the fly tipping figures are only based on fly tipping incidents reported on council land, and doesn’t include Bolton at Home owned land which includes the former council estates throughout Bolton, or privately owned land which of course will include farmland sadly a popular target for fly tippers.

So let us just consider this out of the total land in Bolton being affected by the horror of fly tipping the council are only interested in one out of the three areas. Now that’s irresponsible.

We need the total number of fly tipping incidents throughout the WHOLE of Bolton and this will show a true reflection on how good or bad the situation has become. Frankly I think we already know the answer.

Finally just to set the record straight. If caring about the environment in which we live is irresponsible, then I am irresponsible. If wanting the best quality of life for my constituents is irresponsible, then I am irresponsible. If campaigning to improve the areas in which we live is irresponsible, then I am irresponsible.

Councillor Paul Wild

Conservative Councillor Astley Bridge Ward

Astley Bridge