CONGRATULATIONS to Peter Blackburn for writing the most cynical and out-of-touch comments of the year (Letters, November 13).

Maybe if he examined the facts of the refuse service in Blackburn and Darwen he would reconsider his views.

Between May-September this year, 98.54 per cent of bins were emptied with no problems whatsoever. This figure rises to more than 99.9 per cent when those bins that cannot be emptied immediately are taken into consideration (such as overweight bins or where back streets are blocked with vehicles).

These figures are not exceptional -- the hard working staff achieve these results week in, week out, year in, year out.

If Mr Blackburn has more rubbish than his bin can cope with, he can take this to either of the two household waste centres (free of charge), or he can simply phone the council to remove it, unlike some councils, free of charge.

If Mr Blackburn has a particularly large family, he can request a larger bin. If he is frail or disabled the council will lend a hand and remove his bin for him.

Mr Blackburn cannot complain either about the service being "unbusinesslike." The council won the tender to provide the service in open competition with the private sector.

In other words, it would cost the taxpayer more if "politically correct unbusinesslike people" did not run the service.

Of course, no one is saying the service is perfect -- there is always room for improvement But, overall, it is, and will remain, a good one.

If anyone has suggestions to make, all they have to do is phone their local councillor or write to the director of technical services. Cynical carping to the press won't improve the service.

COUNCILLOR DAVE SMITH (Sunnyhurst Ward), Avondale Road, Darwen.