THE Marlbrook tip is a prime example of how our council operates.

As we all know, for years the council ignored residents, who informed it of over-tipping – by in excess of a million cubic metres.

Eventually a working party was set up to find a way forward for the tip. However, after over four years, with the council continually coming up with pathetic reasons as to why they could take no action, it decided the little puddle down Alvechurch highway was a reservoir.

Yes that’s the reservoir, the little pool that you could wade across in wellingtons in perhaps thirty seconds.

The one, to quote Ruth Bamford, that will flood Catshill if it bursts its banks. Since it is now a reservoir it is no longer the councils responsibility, and is now down to the Environment Agency.

And by the way, during this process the council was ordered to pay compensation to at least one resident. Yes, you have guessed. For some strange reason it was the council tax payer that paid the compensation. Not as should have been the case, the councillors, who chose to ignore the residents.

Well now, and I am not making this up, the tip report from the Environmental Agency has been heavily redacted.

Apparently because it posses a threat to national security.

So next time you drive down Alvechurch highway, stop and look at the little pool, sorry, reservoir, and think how it has become a threat to national security.

D Davenport Bromsgrove