Sir, I was disappointed to read the attack on David Mundell MP and the unwarranted criticism of myself and Councillor Cockburn in last week’s edition of the Peeblesshire News by a fellow Tweeddale councillor who seemed unwilling to publicise his political affiliation.

However, I recognise that the SNP only tolerate opinions which accord with their own dogmatic views.

To set the record straight, the Conservative group were against the removal of the Green Waste service and proposed an amendment to delay the removal whilst a cost free review of the Waste Management Strategy was carried out by Zero Waste Scotland who offered this service because they viewed the removal as a backward step.

The delay carried no risk to the Council and would have been a positive approach to addressing the concerns of the public and indeed many Administration councillors. All SNP and LibDem councillors voted against our amendment.

Readers will recall that that the announcement to withdraw this service was made without any public consultation and that the SNP/LibDem Administration tried to “hoodwink” the public by sneaking-out the announcement over the Christmas period.

A similar tactic was used by the SNP Government when closing our local courts and implementing the decision to have a single Police Force after what can only described as a perfunctory consultation.

With reference to last week’s letter I would like to know how the SNP Government is subsidising our Council Tax while at the same time cutting the annual grant to all Local Authorities to enable them to finance give-aways and other costs before the referendum.

This SNP-led Administration is rapidly becoming a clone of the SNP Government with its total disregard to democracy and accountability. Their LibDem colleagues have a lot to answer for and should wise-up before their party disappears into the mists of time.

I am, etc.

Gavin Logan Conservative Councillor for Tweeddale East