Prospective Conservative Parish Councillor Caroline Reid has denounced the idea of a “bin-tax” as a complete nonsense.
The Labour Government has proposed giving Local Authorities power to introduce so called “incentive charges” under the pretext of encouraging householders to minimise waste and to recycle more. Put more straightforwardly this propsed “bin-tax” is yet another stealth tax.
Caroline said, “Our local Council are committed to promoting recycling and providing a good refuse collection service. They believe, and I agree, that ‘bin taxes’ are a step in the wrong direction in the fight to minimise waste and could, in fact, encourage Fly-Tipping”.
Local Bagshot residents will be delighted to hear that Conservative leader of Surrey Heath Borough Council, Moira Gibson has emphatically stated that, “We will definitely not be using this scheme in Surrey Heath !” – good news for all of us !
11 Comments
November 28, 2007 at 6:33 am
I agree that a ‘bin tax’ may not be the way ahead. However, what are your suggestions for actually increasing the recycling rate in the borough. Our methods seem to have fallen behind those used by some local boroughs and our recycling rates have fallen behind.
Richard
November 28, 2007 at 2:14 pm
I believe that kerbside collections are key to encouraging people to recycle. Although there are plenty of recycling sites in the borough, having items for recycling being collected alongside the regular collections will improve rates. It especially helps those who would like to do more by way of recycling but are not easily able to carry bulky and heavy items to their recycling point such as the elderly.
Caroline
November 28, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Unfortunately we cannot extend the roadside recycling collections until the current recycling contract expires. It will then be good to see more opportunities for roadside collections. Importantly, Surrey Heath Borough Council has promised to keep the weekly bin collections which is very important to all residents of the Borough.
I understand the Recycling area in Somerfields Carpark is cleared twice weekly which shows just how much recycling is already taking place in the village.
December 1, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Surely the Surrey Heath council can renegotiate the contrcat at any point if it wished to. They have made a decision not to do anything!
December 2, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Richard don’t be so cynical.. Of course contracts can be renegotiated at any time – at a cost – if we are all prepared to pay an unlimited amount of council tax then the local council can deliver an unlimited amount of services. But of course we are not.
I think the council made the right decision after the local consultations last year to make changes to arrangements as soon as it is economic to do so.
December 4, 2007 at 6:56 am
Other authorities locally have gradually improved their services. If they have done so, and apparently, without great increases in council tax, Surrey Heath should be able to. Perhaps they have signed a contract that was too favourable to the contractor?
December 4, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Do you actually have any evidence to support this wild allegation ?
I just wish you and the rest of the Liberal Democrats would stop complaining about things and try and concentrate on get some things done rather than just attacking the efforts of others.
With any luck we will not have to put up with it for much longer.
December 7, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Guys, guys, look stop trying to get one over each other with your political views. Those of us in Bagshot just want to get kerbside recycling collections, but we’re not stupid. We realise that renegotiating a contract when its up for renewal so soon is pointless.
Anyway, what would I want to see? Ideally a wheelie bin that allows us to put cardboard, paper, cans and glass all in one and it gets automatically sorted afterward. Failing that then LARGE boxes (with some kind of lid) for each of these that are colour coded and then left out for collection.
I am one of those who have paid the stupid amount of money for one of the brown bins for my garden waste as I believe that overall they are better for the environment over a number of years than me taking bin bags down to Swift lane (and ending up with yet another puncture in my tyres for doing so). A bin of this size for all of the above recyling would be great. Thanks.
December 8, 2007 at 9:47 am
Simon, Thanks for your positive and productive comments and suggestions – thats exactly what this blog is all about !
December 8, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Agreed Simon – this was starting to turn into a slagging match for political geeks – wonder why the turnout on locals is so low?? The recycling in Bracknell Forest seems much better, colour coded boxes on the doorstep but also at the recyling sites you don’t have to separate newspaper / cardboard / wrapping paper etc, seems like they have some understanding that recycling does actually take time. Hopefully SHBC will do something similar from 2009.
December 11, 2007 at 12:46 pm
It’s good to see so many keen to support better recycling! Recycling provision should be a major consideration in the next contract negotiations and I am sure Councillors at all levels will act on what is clearly the majority public view.
Cath is right, it needs to be as easy or easier to recycle than not recycle, then there can be no excuses! Roll on 2009!