SIR — No! No! No! Your Minehead hotelier correspondent has commented too harshly on the opening hours (or lack of them) at Minehead's waste recycling centre over the May Bank Holiday (Free Press May 6). 

I was surprised and grateful they were open at all for the Bank Holiday actually, and certainly would not expect the staff to then do extra hours the following week just because residents might have rather more rubbish than usual over the long weekend and cannot be bothered to get it to the centre during the new allotted times.

The new opening times are on the gates, large and clear, and surely responsible people would make a quick note of these if they have arrived when the place is shut and co-operate by returning during the correct times, instead of disgorging everything on the pavement outside and beating a hasty retreat.

As he helped me with an ungainly load, a member of staff told me it took over half an hour to clear up, therefore we lost some of the opening time anyway, for they kept the centre shut till the job was done.

I saw the gigantic mountain of garbage on the pavement in utter disbelief.  Apparently it was quite small in the morning, but obviously, where one goes, others are sure to follow. Then I read some of it was even pinched! Morons of Minehead! What a pity!

Recently a neighbour and I were getting rather angry about paper, plastic, beer cans and even a frying pan found on the verges of Porlock Road, the latter with a large dent in it, so the aim didn't miss!  I'm beginning to wish we'd kept it!

Ros Robinson,

Bratton Lane,

Minehead.