As one of the Monkey's assistants I would like to take the opportunity of replying to Mr. W. Parkin's letter – Belper News, November 28.

We live in a democracy and it is right and proper that everyone has the freedom to express their views, and I, for one, would support his frustration that we still have to travel to Loscoe to recycle rubbish.

However, I would suggest that Mr Parkin takes a little more care in getting his facts right or else he runs the risk of not only talking about rubbish but actually talking rubbish.

To my certain knowledge, Amber Valley has been pressing the county council for a local transfer station for at least the last eight years – to no avail.

The county is the senior authority which makes the decision not the borough, so Mr Parkin's sarcasm is both unfair and unfounded.
The next comment regarding low percentages is equally unfair and unfounded.

AVBC has the highest dry recycling figure in the whole of Derbyshire and are continuing to work very hard to increase this.

The new pilot scheme for garden waste indicates this.

It has become very fashionable, in certain quarters, to indulge in 'Council Bashing' and where it is deserved then fair enough, no one is perfect, but to be lambasted by someone who can't even take the trouble to get his facts correct, is irksome to say the least.

Get in touch with your county councillor Mr Parkin.

Cllr Peter Makin
Belper Central Ward
Amber Valley Borough Council