IT is regrettable that the provision of recycling facilities in the area is being turned into a political football (Sir Peter Brown's letter, May 13) when it would be better to focus on providing adequate and safe facilities for the community, all of which we had at the Brampton centre.
I cannot recognise Sir Peter Brown's description of the Alconbury tip, which must have undergone a spectacular transformation since I used it a few weeks ago. We arrived on a busy Sunday morning with a large amount of garden waste to find vehicles parked nose-to-tail in two lanes alongside all of the skips with a continuous stream of vehicles in the middle lane.
People were moving between parked and moving vehicles, loaded with waste of various descriptions. We struggled to get our garden waste into one of the skips and managed only with the help of another very kind couple. There were two operatives visible on duty, who helped no one while we were there and seemed completely overwhelmed by the number of people and vehicles around.
One car driver travelling down the centre lane hit his wing mirror on a parked van. Any other commercial concern with such a disregard for the health and safety of users would have been closed down.
This centre, along with others where it is necessary to climb steep metal steps with waste, is in no way fit for purpose.
The new facility planned to open in St Neots may have improved facilities and better access on site but still requires a 14-16 mile round trip for Godmanchester residents. This does not seem to fit with the green agenda claimed, and a better option would be to re-open the Brampton centre.