IN spite of frenzied denials by the Wycombe District Council, my prediction of August 17 (Bucks Free Press August 20, 2004) that "the green bins, the maggots and the rubbish bags (were) here to stay" has been confirmed by the event.

"A democratic decision", a spokesperson tells us (Grow News, July 2005), "was taken by councillors to make this scheme permanent."

When people like this start to talk of democracy, it is time for their paymasters to count the coconuts and lock up the spoons.

In a true democracy, the views of the minority are treated with respect. The decision was, we discover, taken on the basis of a survey by the council's favourite agent, the validity of which has been challenged. Incidentally, I was one of its victims.

To add to bursting biodeg-radable bags we now have unobtainable paper ones; we are in addition offered biodegradable bags of "wheeled bin size". The bursting of one of these would certainly be an event to remember, but fortunately "these are quite expensive", so that we peasants will not be able to afford them.

Most of the onus of implementing the council's scheme will of course continue to be borne by the taxpayers.

There is no mention of the cost of this preparation. The principle is of course good, but the execution is gravely marred by inadequate funding, misleading presentation and poor planning.

Sometime, perhaps, "our" councillors will nerve themselves to assert their authority and prevail on the executive to devote to funding the scheme the money now being spent on "surveys" designed to further its own objectives. Bad news for "CM Research" perhaps, but we do not pay our taxes to provide business for that firm.

GL W Bonney, Wooburn