A concerned mother and grandmother

Dear Editor,

I am writing concerning issues and policies that Stirling Council is adopting.

As a Council Tax payer I feel that I should make my voice clear re these issues.

Earlier this year my husband and I went to the rubbish tip at Polmaise.

It was a warm day and driving down I noticed the fields beside the tip and around the area were covered with hogweed, I was appalled as I know how serious this plant can be if your skin comes into contact with it.

We have an allotment in Dunblane and this plant is taken very seriously and disposed of.

Consequently, seeing fields of this plant which has not been eradicated in a safe manner, with all of its seed heads was worrying.

Since I saw this I have heard about and seen the results of a boy who has come into contact with it at the Laighhills as reported in the Observer.

I would like to know why the council is letting this plant spread so profusely in the area.

The council says it is short of money but this is certainly a priority over other things, eg the cycle path on the road parallel to Raploch. I have not seen one cyclist use this since it was finished and it could be a hazard in bad weather (a problem clearing snow in the winter).

Re-your new ideas regarding the weekly waste disposal.

First of all you must have spent pounds buying new bins which are flimsy compared to other bins we have

had. It won’t be long before they need replacing.

We are trying to reach zero rating to save our planet but I believe you are going backwards in trying to achieve this.

My husband and I have had at least two composts all our married life (51 years) and tried not to be wasteful.

But the council comes along and decides to:

a. Stop collecting glass bottles and jars - has this been put on hold or scrapped altogether? If not, residents in the area will put them in the grey bin particularly the older generation.

b. Charge for collecting