Conservatives To Cut Weekly Bin Collections

1.08.50am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 13th Sep 2007

Stafford Liberal Democrats believe more should be done to encourage recycling before the Council introduces twice weekly bin collections

Barry Stamp Leader of the Liberal Democrat's on Stafford Borough Council has hit out at Stafford Conservatives plan to reduce the collection of household rubbish bins from once a week to once a fortnight despite the fact that during the run up to May elections they told local residents they had no intention of making such a change.

"I am appalled that the Conservatives promised the residents of Stafford that they had no intention of cutting the weekly bin collection if they were elected at the Council elections earlier this year. Now just five months later they have announced they will be making the cut. To try an deflect criticism they are saying they are making the move to encourage more recycling, but if you read the Council report it is clear the real motive is really just to save money! Next year's Council budget is in a real mess with the Conservatives having to find nearly £2Million to balance the books. The bottom line is they can't afford to collect the general household rubbish bin more than once a fortnight. Basically they lied to the local residents back in May to ensure they got re-elected.

Liberal Democrats wholeheartedly support recycling, but we believe that the plan to withdraw the weekly refuse bin collect is ill thought through and premature. Much more needs to be done to help local residents recycle more of their waste and only then should the Council consider the introduction of a fortnightly collection. Leaving rotting food scraps and dirty nappies in the bin for two weeks, especially during the hot summer months, will surely result in smells and become a health hazard," said Barry Stamp.