No reprieve over charges for green waste

Wyre Council will not follow the example of Fylde in holding back plans to force residents to pay for their green bins to be emptied.
Coun David Henderson said Wyre Council green bin charges will remainCoun David Henderson said Wyre Council green bin charges will remain
Coun David Henderson said Wyre Council green bin charges will remain

Fylde councillors last week voted to defer the imposition of a charge at a special meeting of the Fylde Council’s operational management committee.

Members decided they would take time to consider all options for the service as part of the budget setting process for 2017-18, including subscription fees for the removal of green waste.

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The authority had been investigating options for the service, including charging an annual £30 from as early as this August.

Their decision prompted questions from council tax payers in Wyre who are facing the introduction of a similar charge from May 1.

Residents used The Gazette’s Facebook page to question the charges, and the loss of other services in the borough.

Carole Croston posted: “We in Over Wyre have to pay from May for our green waste.

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“We have just lost our 86 bus service and our 2C service has been drastically reduced.

“Cut us off and charge us more for waste?

“Why is Over Wyre being so unsupported?”

Tracy Garside wrote: “Fleetwood are the poor relations yet again. Why has Lancashire County Council treated Wyre differently to Fylde?

“We all pay in so why should we have to pay extra?”

But Wyre Council insists its financial situation is different to Fylde’s and the charges will be introduced as planned.

CounDavid Henderson, cabinet member for recycling at Wyre Council, said: “When our cost sharing agreement with Lancashire County Council ends we need to be prepared.

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“We’re taking action now to mitigate the impact of losing £980,000 towards the recycling service.

“Unfortunately this means that we have to start charging residents who wish to continue having their garden waste collected.

“At the equivalent of only £1.36 per collection, the £30 annual fee represents good value for money and many people have already 
subscribed to the new service.”