SIR – Serco s promise to not allow any unsightly rubbish to stand for long has proved utterly hollow, at any rate, in this part of Panshanger. The collection of leaves and litter has been building up over the last several weeks, behind a mesh screen I

SIR - Serco's promise to 'not allow any unsightly rubbish to stand for long' has proved utterly hollow, at any rate, in this part of Panshanger.

The collection of leaves and litter has been building up over the last several weeks, behind a mesh screen I had installed earlier on, to prevent the material entering my front garden.

Earlier in February I invited a Serco employee, who happened to be in the area, into my front garden to witness at first hand, the build up of this flotsam.

I suggested at the time that the litter and leaves could be speedily removed with the aid of a manually operated blower. There has, so far, been no move from Serco and plenty from the litter!

A further, and totally unexpected, development has been the attitude of the borough council with regard to this problem of litter entering one's garden from surrounding council land.

Earlier this year I asked the council for formal permission to erect a small fence, 10 feet by three feet, between my front garden and that of my neighbour, in order to prevent leaves and litter being blown into my garden from further up Chalk Dale.

I was told that planning permission for such a fence would cost �45 plus VAT.

To put it bluntly, I am to be penalised for having the temerity to seek to adopt measures to prevent leaves and litter entering my garden from areas which are the council's responsibility.

A bit rich, don't you think?

Victor Waddell, Chalk Dale, WGC.