IT'S with total disbelief that I read the comments of Cllr Val Morris-Cook (Gazette Letters, December 31). May I suggest she takes a look around Thurrock following the recent weather.

In my area the side roads and pavements were vertically impassable for up to five days at a time and with a high local population of elderly residents, some people were housebound for these periods.

Only the support of local neighbours helped these vulnerable residents during this period.

I’m sure the areas around the council offices and councillors’ residences did not suffer the same fate?

As for the excellent work carried out by our refuse collection contractors, I ask what refuse collection? I haven’t seen a bin wagon for three weeks.

My bins have been in and out of my garden like a fiddler’s elbow. Rubbish has been blowing around the streets of Thurrock from overspilling bins for weeks.

I understand the recent weather was an issue, having to travel down inadequately cleared roads to work during this whole period, but resent the condescending comments in your letters page.

Do our councillors think the residents of Thurrock cannot judge for themselves the performance or not of our council services? – ALEX HASTIE, Crofton Road, Grays.