Far too few cleaners to deal with so much rubbish

2:58pm Wednesday 27th August 2008

I STRONGLY support the arguments that the Kier contract has resulted in a marked deterioration in the levels of cleanliness and hygiene of our streets, especially in Waltham-stow.

It matters not that £600K has been saved if the the result is that residents, who pay amongst the highest council taxes in London, now live in some of the dirtiest streets in the city.

Filthy pavements and roads have a marked impact on the quality of life for us all, let alone the issue of increased vermin feeding on uncollected food particles and walkways defiled by dog excrement.

Informal discussions with street cleaners has revealed that their numbers, and hence the capacity to clean, has been cut by between 40 per cent and 60 per cent.

This is the real issue: we need more cleaners on the residential streets performing this vital role.

It is time that the council focused on this important issue, otherwise residents will continue to live in the council's uncollected rubbish.

John Base, Walthamstow.

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