Lewes Forum thread

Go on, tell 'em what you think

Lewes Forum New message

recycling

On 8 Apr 2010 at 10:19pm wanderer wrote:

QUOTE FROM ARGUS
Lewes council scrap recycling collections after health and safety fears
2:20pm Thursday 8th April 2010
* Print
* Email
* Share
* Comments(3)
* By Tim Ridgway �

Recycling collections have been suspended after health and safety concerns prevented a new refuse wagon from driving down access roads.
Lewes District Council has asked residents in more than 80 properties to put their boxes at the end of their drives.
Council bosses claimed its new 7.5-ton wagon, which was introduced to improve efficiency, could not reach the houses.
Critics claim the move, which in some cases will see residents transport their own waste half-a-mile, will reduce recycling rates.
The information was revealed after questioning from Chailey councillor Sharon Davy when the service was suspended to 27 properties in her ward.
Coun Davy, who said 81 properties in the district were affected by the issue, added: "Residents were offered a service which has now been withdrawn.
"Had that offer not been in the first place then we would not be at this position.
"We have really promoted the recycling box system in this area and we have a really high take-up.
"How can a couple in their 80s be expected to continue recycling when they have to transport it part of the way themselves?"
But officers defended the decision stating it would "potentially save crews several hours through the week".
In one case the council said it took 30 minutes to complete a round trip of mile down a track.
Other reasons stated "the road is unsuitable" and "there are health and safety obstacles that are disproportionate in risk to the value of the recycling".

On 8 Apr 2010 at 11:32pm age concern wrote:

"How can a couple in their 80s be expected to continue recycling when they have to transport it part of the way themselves?"
What ageist nonsense. if they are able to get down their own long drive - possibly in a car- they are able to transport their waste. There are many fit and healthy 80-year-olds who would be offended by the assumption they are somehow unable to do so.

On 9 Apr 2010 at 9:53am Sherlock wrote:

My grandmother was still doing her own shopping in her 90s and complaining about 'old dears' getting in her way.

On 10 Apr 2010 at 2:00am Thread Bear wrote:

ahh the sweet smell of progress vs. corporate w'nkers

On 10 Apr 2010 at 6:59am jrsussex wrote:

Quite simple really, yet another service paid for by our ever increasing council tax being withdrawn under the guise of "Health and Safety" which just happens to save the local authority money. The point is not whether 80 or 90 year olds are capable of carrying their recycle-able waste to the end of the road or wherever, it is why should they. We pay for certain services to be carried out on our behalf, if local authorities want to whittle them away then at least let us see some financial benefit by a reduction in our council tax. Whilst local authorities continue to cut our services under the banner of having to make savings just what in-house cuts do they make? They could start by no longer inventing ridiculous employment posts, often carrying equally ridiculous salaries, which we see constantly advertised in the local newspapers each week. It is time we starting objecting to the cuts to our services unless they are matched with in-house cuts by county and town councils.

On 10 Apr 2010 at 7:59am Sherlock wrote:

Exactly, jrsussex.

On 10 Apr 2010 at 3:51pm jrsussex wrote:

Further to last post. We already know of the £175k being given to the CEO of the Hospital Trust, Kim Hodgson, without having to work her twelve month notice and now the dear old Sussex Express informs us that the outgoing CEO of the ESCC is to receive �200k, early retirement we are advised, as a pension windfall.
ESCC will continue cutting services and make the elderly walk their re-cycling items to the end of the road as they cannot afford to drive along them and collect it. Strange how they can afford these massive pay offs in theses difficult times!!!!-

On 10 Apr 2010 at 5:09pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:

I wonder if the outgoing CEO will also be getting her civil service pension early? A nice fat wedge, if she is.

On 10 Apr 2010 at 6:07pm waterman wrote:

Just chuck it all in the bin. Recycling is a con (just like collecting pots and pans in WW2, that never got used) The market for rubbish has crashed and there is no profit in it. It will all end up in the ground, just in a nicer order!