WINTER weather updates: Just to remind you that during the period of bad weather that we have been having, Basingstoke and Deane Council has been providing regular local updates on the home page of their website basingstoke.gov.uk.

This includes any rescheduling of bin collections due to the weather, links to Hampshire County Council gritting schedules and salt bin enquiries, together with other useful information about how to stay safe during the winter months.

GARDEN waste service: Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is providing a fortnightly collection of garden waste from February 4 until December 20, to enable residents to recycle their garden waste (grass cuttings, cut flowers, weeds, prunings etc). The waste is then composted locally.

The annual fee for this service, which is payable in advance, is £28.63 for the provision and collection of two large reusable sacks.

You can join later in the year and pay on a pro rata basis.

For more information, email gardenwaste@ basingstoke.gov.uk or call 01256 844844.