I DO hope that people will use the vote they have at the forthcoming elections for Hampshire County Council.

One of the key issues is how our household waste is handled. You have to say that the Conservatives are running things in a shambolic fashion. We had the threat of closure of the main recycling centres. Decisions have now been delayed until after the elections. Here in the New Forest, up to 80 mini recycling centres are still being axed.

READ: Fees for DIY waste to be scrapped as part of fly-tipping crackdown >>>

Meanwhile, the Conservative government is telling off its own councillors for charging for taking household waste. It was entirely predictable that the measure would lead to more fly-tipping. It’s even more expensive to collect it from country lanes and the open New Forest than it would to accept it at the recycling centres.

We need to persuade people not to become fly-tippers, partly by providing the facilities free of charge, but impose heavy penalties on those who offend. Fining is not enough. They should be made to collect it themselves, with accompanying publicity.

Councillor David Harrison

New Forest Liberal Democrats