Autumn is now here and the trees are heavy with leaves ready to fall and make a mess all over the city.

It’s time to put away the cherry pickers and give the street cleaning staff a broom to clear up our city centre and districts, and make it, once again, a city we can all be proud of.

Sadly, too many areas have been neglected for too long and are in need of a deep clean.

It’s false economy to just walk up and down a street looking for a tin can or packet when there is a general mess all over.

Only after many complaints is there is a blitz with a gang of workers giving the area a deep clean.

I have never known the city streets so neglected as they are these days.

It’s not a good advertisement for visitors to the city. What impression must they leave with?

I, like many others, would like to see some return for the council tax we pay.

It has to go somewhere, so spend it on our streets.

COLIN SMITH, George Moore Close, Donnington