City is not to blame

I havE to write in defence of Nottingham council and the use of ‘ashtray’ bins (Mail).

I recently visited my daughter and her husband, who live in the city. we took the tram into town as we were celebrating my husband’s forthcoming birthday by enjoying a meal together.

I smoke, and was extremely pleased to find so many bins around town, all with ashtrays. There was no rubbish on or around any of the bins, or the pavements for that matter.

I live on the borders of Essex and London, and on the odd occasion I go into town I have great trouble in locating a rubbish bin for my cigarette ends. Kath RobeRts, buckhurst hill, essex. wOuLd it be possible to have compulsory lessons in schools on how to put rubbish in a bin?

I lived in Germany for 15 years and have travelled extensively throughout Europe and scandinavia — and Britain is by far the most litterstrewn country I’ve seen.

why do we have so many idiots who see fit to blight our towns and countryside with their refuse? Isn’t it time we started shaming these selfish cowards, or do the British have pride in their country only when their national football teams are playing? GLeNN sMaLL, Wokingham, berks.