More bins to use, not fewer

Editor News editor I would like to reassure your correspondent Janis Kay (KM August 19) we are not cutting the number of bins which dog owners can use to dispose of their pet’s poo – far from it. We now have a more flexible system for disposing of waste. This means while the 354 bins that were for dog poo only are being removed, owners can now use any of the borough’s 1,500 bins. The only proviso is the waste is bagged.

In most cases where dog mess bins are being removed, a litter bin is nearby. Where this is not the case a new bin will be installed if needed. We will be monitoring the use of bins and increasing the frequency with which they are emptied where necessary.

The letter also says that we are “selling off land like there is no tomorrow”. This is not the case. In the past two years, Maidstone Borough Council has only sold a small amount of land with a total value of just £50,000.

The letter is correct in saying that we need to save money. Changes to the way in which local government is funded will mean we have to make very significant reductions in budgets for providing services to residents over the next five years. Cllr Fran Wilson, leader, Maidstone Borough Council