CLENT INDEPENDENT

PARISH COUNCILS UNITE ON BIN COLLECTIONS!

WE HAVE TO ALL COME TOGETHER TO SHOW THESE COUNCIL'S WE WANT OUR PUBLIC SERVICES??

THREE local parish councils are joining forces to pressure Bromsgrove District Council into reinstating a green bin service this winter.

The green bin service is due to finish from the end of November, and collections will recommence from the start of April.

This month, householders are to be notified of the changes through a collection calendar, a notice in Together the district council's magazine, notices in village and parish council newsletters, and though flyers which are being posted out to residents. Posters will also be displayed in libraries and leisure centres.

At the Lickey and Blackwell Parish meeting last week (October 1) the head of the waste management service, Mike Bell, heard t Heated discussions took place, in which Mike Bell commented that the service was expensive to run, considering the small amount of green waste which is collected in the winter, and pointed out residents could compost their waste.

Barnt Green, Lickey and Blackwell and Cofton Hackett are holding a joint meeting on Thursday, October 18, at which the removal of the green bin service will be discussed.

A draft copy of a letter from the three parish councils, which is to be sent to the council's chief executive, Kevin Dicks, and finalised at the meeting, will ask for the issue to be reconsidered with the possibility of introducing at least a monthly collection during the period, and asking for the return of a fortnightly collection for the winter of 2008/9.

Speaking to the Advertiser/Messenger parish councillor, Leslie Stanhope, said: "Bromsgrove District Council is basing the decision on an average collection, but during the winter rural areas still have green waste from large trees, bushes and shrubs."

A spokesman for Bromsgrove District Council said they could not comment until they had received a copy of the letter.

The issue is also one of concern for the Stoke Parish Council, who have organised a visit from Rachel Kennett, of Bromsgrove District Council's waste policy and promotions, who will be talking about the service at the next parish council meeting, on November 5, at the Stoke Prior Village Hall in Hanbury Road.