I applaud Coun Ciaran Wells (pictured) for starting the petition against the closure of Great Harwood tip (LT, July 26), scheduled for the end of November by Lancashire County Council, apparently to save money!

The news comes after an 80-year-old bed-bound pensioner from Reading was reported to have died as a result of being bitten by rats as she lay in bed.

According to her neighbours, rats were entering their houses via toilets and pipes.

These people said they thought the rat infestation was a direct result of the fortnightly bin collections – another money-saving tactic bestowed on us by past and present governments.

Most people understand there are needs to cut back to pay off our national debt, but if this country is bankrupt, why are we giving money away and increasing foreign aid by 34 per cent? So yes, Coun Wells, keep up the good work and I urge everyone who uses Great Harwood tip to sign your petition before yet another public service is axed.

The saying goes, “you only get what you pay for”, but here in rip-off Britain we don’t even get that!

L Ashcroft, Blackburn Road, Great Harwood.