I READ the statement by Cllr Peel regarding the program "Don't blame the Council" and couldn't believe what I was reading.

Having worked for both Bolton and Wigan councils maybe I can help him to understand.

Both councils used to operate refuse collection on the "task and finish" system which meant that on completion of the round allocated for the day employees could go home whether they had done their full hours or not.

The powers that be at Wigan for whatever reason decided that instead of this they would implement a system whereby the employees had to clock in and out at set times.This led to the situation that was shown in the documentary where employees have a lot of time to kill and the leisure facilities we saw were paid for by the council (or rather council taxpayers in Wigan). Bolton Council doesn't have this situation because their employees just go home and are not required to "clock out."

I am shocked and disturbed that after so many meetings between the two councils to discuss joining forces such a basic difference in working practices hasn't come to light or at least Cllr Peel who is ultimately responsible seems unaware of it.

A former binman

Name and address supplied