ARROGANT, out of touch and undemocratic.

Those are the charges levelled today against Southampton's ruling Liberal Democrats after they ignored a crushing vote and vowed to push ahead with plans for fortnightly rubbish collection across the city.

Opposition councillors joined forces to deliver a thumping defeat to the controversial scheme that is set to cost £1m.

Thousands of people who signed the Daily Echo's What A Waste campaign petition will today be wondering how the project can still be going ahead in the face of rejection by the city's elected representatives.

Residents' leaders across Southampton have condemned city leaders.

Southampton Federation of Residents' Associations president Peter Wirgman said: "You would have thought that if they were defeated they would have had the good grace to look at it again.

It seems a bit undemocratic.

" Lorraine Barter, chairman of the Polygon Residents' Action Group, added: "I feel that the present administration appears to be arrogant and out of touch with people's feelings on this matter.

" A motion urging the city's all-powerful Cabinet to think again was passed by 29 votes to none after the Liberal Democrats abstained.

The 12-strong Conservative group, 15 of the 16 Labour councillors and Sheriff of Southampton Harry Mitchell, an independent, backed the motion.

Even fellow independent Paul Russell,who holds a Cabinet post in the Liberal Democrat administration, deserted his colleagues to side with those trying to keep weekly bin rounds.

Full story in tonight's Daily Echo