From Cllr Mark Edwards

Conservative Group Spokesman, Taunton Deane Borough Council

 

Date:  29 October 2007   Release: Immediate 

 

 

BUDGET CONSTRAINTS MAY IMPACT ON RECYCLING SERVICES IN TAUNTON DEANE

 

Councillor Mark Edwards, who was responsible for the introduction of the present award winning recycling service in Taunton which is now one of the most successful in the country, last week highlighted concerns about changes being considered to the recycling service in the Deane.

 

He said, “I am still deeply concerned that amongst the three trial options being considered is to change the collection of all recyclable items to fortnightly to counter the additional costs of adding plastics and cardboard items to the service”.

 

“The Council has a significant budget gap and cuts in services seem inevitable so the additional cost of adding plastics and cardboard to the recycling service will come under massive pressure and I am therefore concerned that the Liberal Democrat Executive running the Council will take the low cost option which would be massively detrimental to the service.”

 

“I am also extremely concerned after comments from the Leader of the Council, Councillor Ross Henley, in the Somerset County Gazette that he had no idea where I had this information from and that it had not been discussed. This is utter nonsense and I find the fact that he states he is not aware of these trials extremely concerning. I challenged him about them, as recently as Full Council, and yet he seems to have no recollection of this.”

 

“I now see that Chris Huhne MP, one of the candidates in the Liberal Democrats Leadership election, is supporting Councils charging for waste collections. I therefore assume that this being Liberal Democrat policy, it is only a matter of time before the budget constraints will lead Taunton Deane to considering this option as well.”

 

“I will say again that I will not see the recycling service being compromised by the new Liberal Democrat administration at Taunton Deane and will demand that when plastics and cardboard are introduced it will be in addition to the services on offer and will not be detrimental to the present scheme in any form at all.”