Have we gone soft? A few inches of winter wonderland is dropped on to our roads and we go moaning and groaning to these columns as though Bolton Council is expected to put up a large umbrella or miraculously whisk all the snow away before we got out of bed.

Our roads were gritted successfully twice during the night and the results were obvious to anyone not blinded by their prejudice.

The same folk, I imagine, who complain about their council tax, which, by the way, has remained the same this year as last year. I reckon some folk sit at home waiting for the next excuse to complain or do so from their office computer. I am surprised they haven’t blamed God for sending the snow in the first place. And I bet they have voted no to the massive investment proposed for our transport system.

Talking of council tax, I shall pay mine with gratitude this month. My grey bin is normally emptied on Thursdays and that means that it will remain unemptied on Christmas Day. Do you know, I could complain about that. I won’t, because it will be emptied on the Saturday! How’s that for service? I wouldn’t mind if we had to wait. With Bolton’s excellent recycling system, our four bins easily take the strain of our waste.

Blow it. I shall risk complaints from the Scrooges. A Happy Christmas to all those who write to and read these letters.

John Hampson, New Hall Lane, Bolton