Last Friday 12th July, my husband and I had to visit Mitchel Troy recycling centre three times before finding it open for business.

At 9.10am and at 10.10am the gate was shut. The gent on the gate said it would reopen in about 40 minutes and when we returned at 11.05am it was finally open.

Cars were queueing up the access road, out onto the main road: not a safe situation.

At this time of year everyone is producing a lot of garden refuse and now that the centre is closed two days a week it creates a backlog. The Mitchel Troy site is clearly not fit for purpose as it is so small and cramped that the whole site has to close just to empty one of the skips.

I have every sympathy with the cash-strapped council but I do feel that a solution needs to be sought. We’re supposed to be using our cars less, but we ended up driving 12 miles instead of four! How people who live further away manage I just don’t know.

Hilary Trenear (Monmouth)