There is no doubt the rubbish problem in Brighton and Hove is the fault of the council.

It is also one of the most expensive services anywhere in Britain and yet no-one seems to want to say why.

This problem has gone on for years and needs sorting out. The only way to deal with it is to go back to basics.

It is widely known that the council wants to off-load the dustmen's jobs to the private sector but there are questions to be asked with regard to the costs.

A full independent audit should be undertaken to find out how much the contract is costing and how much is actually being spent on the rubbish clearance against what the council say it is spending.

The dustmen are not totally innocent in this cat and mouse game either and the council is acting irresponsibly by playing that game rather than sorting it out.

In the past I have found dustmen were always helpful. Not any more. Because their bosses have treated them badly, they are passing the bad feeling on to the customer.

-J Evans, Kemp Town