Sir.-I read with amazement last week's letter from Councillor Paula Baker.

I thought a politician would be too embarrassed to write about something they had such an appalling record on.

The Liberal Democrat administration that she was a prominent member of was in joint control for 11 years. After those 11 years, Basingstoke and Deane had one of the worst recycling rates in England and the worst in Hampshire, recycling only 17 per cent of its waste.

In the past couple of months, I have heard more about recycling and its benefits than I have heard in years.

I think Cllr Elaine Still is tackling this well. She seems to be everywhere and has certainly increased the profile of recycling.

At least the Tories are doing something about it.

Onalee Cubitt,
Up Nately.