DEBATE continues to rumble on over Vale Royal Borough Council's new recycling scheme.

An online poll set up on the Guardian's websites - thisisnorthwich.co.uk and thisiswinsford.co.uk - has provoked a strong reaction from residents, who were asked to answer 'yes' or 'no' to the question: Do you think the Vale Royal kerbside recycling scheme has been successful?

So far the results have been overwhelmingly negative, and as the Guardian went to press last night, Tuesday, a massive 83 per cent of residents had said 'no' to the efficacy of the scheme.

And an online feedback forum on our website has seen many residents let off steam about their recycling problems.

The vast majority of the people leaving feedback have levelled criticism at the borough council for sticking to the idea of fortnightly collection of residual waste.

Shirley O'Cleirigh, of Hough Lane, Anderton, said: "I am quite willing to recycle and have been doing. However, the once fortnightly refuse collection simply isn't enough.

"Despite spending my own time by twice visiting the tip with non-recyclable rubbish, I still had five bags left over which were not collected on Friday.

"My green bin is therefore full and I have to wait a further two weeks for the next collection."

Jackie Ellis, from Kingsmead, gave the scheme short shrift. She said: "The whole thing will have been driven by a blinkered desire to meet Government targets and by a short-sighted desire to prove that they have cut costs and saved money."

But Rachael Davies, from Sandiway, described the recycling regime as 'fantastic' and added: "People rarely bother to cry out about the positive. It will always be those who find the problems who make the most noise.

"I hope the council holds out and sticks with the scheme and people put more energy into flattening boxes, squashing cans and recycling their plastic than complaining about a council that is trying to improve our environment."

l For a full breakdown of all the feedback on the recycling scheme, log on to www.thisisnorthwich.co.uk or www.thisiswinsford.co.uk

rfraser@guardiangrp.co.uk