Charge plan to empty bins

Residents would have to stump up extra cash on top of normal council tax payments, under plans in a borough council blueprint document setting out the priorities for Shrewsbury over the coming decade.

The report's authors are recommending the council looks seriously at introducing the scheme.

It says consistently low council tax rises have reduced the borough's revenue fund - the money which is used to pay for day-to-day services.

New ways of saving money to help deliver vital services and ensure a "balanced financial programme" should be explored, the report states.

It adds: "It is recommended that savings are secured through non-priority services or those where service charges can be made.

"For example new service charges could be introduced for the discretionary collection of green waste or for a weekly refuse collection service. This approach merits serious consideration."

Council chief executive Robin Hooper said there were no firm proposals yet, but agreed the idea needed to be looked at seriously.

"It's really thinking outside the box about what people's expectations are. The public have a choice about what services they want, but someone has to pay for it."

He said Shrewsbury was the only part of Shropshire to still have a weekly bin collection and, as a result, less household waste was recycled. Getting more people recycling was key to tackling the issue, Mr Hooper said.

Under the scheme, fortnightly services would still be covered by council tax. Residents would only have to pay extra if they wanted a more frequent collection.

The council has already cut-back the green waste collection service during winter to save money. But borough council leader Peter Nutting today said there were no current plans to charge people extra to retain their weekly bin collections.

"These are Government guidelines, but we have got no intention of going down this road at the moment.

"We don't need to do it. We are a financially viable council."

By Tom Warren

Have your say. What is your reaction to the plans to pay for weekly collections.

Email internet@shropshirestar.co.uk

YOUR COMMENTS:

I live in a village. What do we get for our rates? Bus - when they feel like it and never on time. One post office - may or not close down. No street lights, no doctor's surgery, high band of rates. Every other European country live far better lives and are treated to the best of everything. Used to be Great Brtain. No more. The council found enough momey to build that monstrocity of a Guild Hall and flood barriers so it won't fall down in ten years time. Time we had a say in how our money is spent.

Mrs K Oliver

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I am horrified and disgusted with any idea of charging to collect waste from homes. As resident in nearby Telford I am worried that our local looney left wing council would also like to adopt the same plans as an extra revenue exercise. I suppose road tolls for using the M54 and congestion charges will be next. We as a family have been keen on recycling and have adopted a very proactive role in making sure we follow the council guidelines laid out. So each week we have sorted out the glass from tin, the paper from the plastic and the household from the garden waste which all takes time. Now they tell me they are thinking charging me for taking away the refuse that I have sorted out for them. How about I start billing them each week for the time I spend sorting the rubbish in to the right colour coded bins. It would also make a nice change to at least ask the bin men (sorry, Domestic Waste Engineers) to leave the bins outside our gate where I have left them and not 300 yards down the road each time they come round or would that be to much to ask.

A truely fed up council tax payer.

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After reading the article 'Charge to empty bins' I was disgusted to hear this news. My current council tax bill is over £1,200 and all I get is my bin emptied for this price. I agree to reducing the green waste collection over the winter but we in SY5 have now been waiting 2 months for this collection to happen! I have made numerous phone calls and complaints about it but to no avail. The green waste includes all foods scraps including meat which when left out to be collected could cause a rat infestation! All the council said is they will collect on the next collection?? Let's hope this happens. Also the flyer that was given out before Christmas said "Don't stop recycling over Christmas, we don't!" Well I am an avid recycler and have been for years, I recycle everything that the council will accept, I put out a box of old Christmas wrapping paper and the bin men came and put it in the normal non recylable rubbish (how very green of them!). Don't the council realise that if householders have to start disposing of their own rubbish, carbon monoxide will rise, which doesn't help the environment at all. So how about I dispose of my rubbish myself and save my £1,200 for my son's future as he won't get any inheritance because the government will have that too!!!!

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