FORTNIGHTLY refuse collection, which begins on May 20, came under fire at the Petersfield town meeting on Monday night.

"Uncollected rubbish could lie around for well over two weeks if residents go on holiday," said Michael Wakefield of Heath Road.

"And what about bringing a bin of waste, which has been waiting for a fortnight, through the house? They will have to do that in Sheep Street."

Councillor Brian Dutton was adamant that there would be no problem if everything that could be recycled was removed and the little waste left was properly wrapped and tied in plastic bags.

But Mr Wakefield disagreed, saying that waste disposal experts advised against waste being tied in plastic bags because it hindered decomposition.

East Hampshire district councillor and town councillor, Bob Ayer, said that the health hazards of fortnightly collection had been assessed.

He had also brought the ten- day life cycle of the blow fly in relation to fortnightly collections to the notice of council officers. There are fears the fly could breed in uncollected waste.

Council spokesman Steve Bradley said: "The whole point of the district council's alternate weekly collection scheme is to protect the environment from unnecessary pollution, which is a world-wide problem that needs to be addressed at local and national level.

"Actions like the alternate weekly collection to encourage recycling are operated in many countries and Britain is sadly lagging behind.

"So far the response from residents on the pilot scheme tested in Horndean and Medstead has been very positive and raised very few problems.

"Phase one of the scheme starts on May 20 and residents will be receiving further information about how it will operate and what can and can't be recycled.