More Tory Rubbish about recycling. (Reigate Liberal Democrats)

Reigate Liberal Democrats <info@reigatelibdems.org.uk>

More Tory Rubbish about recycling.

December 24, 2004 2:05 PM
By Cllr. Steve Kulka

Sent to Surrey Mirror 19/12/04 as a response to letter from Conservative Cllr John Jones. (Not printed).

As Group Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the local Council, I feel that I should respond directly to the rambling mixture of dodgy facts and muddled thinking in last weeks letter from Cllr. John Jones. If he's going to quote little Council successes selectively, he should at least check his facts.

Liberal Democrat controlled Liverpool Council is one of the fastest improving Councils on recycling, amongst other things, in the country. The Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority, which is managed by a mixture of Liberal Democrats, Labour and Conservative members recently announced a household recycling rate of 15.9%, despite the fact that when Liberal Democrats recently took control from Labour, they inherited a 2% recycling rate that had been static for years. That's more than can be said for our Tory controlled council, who have only increased our recycling rate by 2% from the 19% that we left it at ten years ago. Check the DEFRA figures John.

It's probably also worth pointing out that Liverpool have also started doorstep collection of glass, along with many other Councils, something our local Tories have singularly refused to do. Our Borough residents are expected to carry heavy and dangerous glass waste to the Council 'Bring To' sites.

Despite the lack of interest by the Conservatives, the Home Composting component of our current recycling was started as a result of the local Lib Dem councillors working directly with council officers and in conjunction with other local councils. I do believe that charging people 50p for the Garden Waste sacks discriminates against people who do not have a large enough garden to do their own composting. The council not only have a requirement to take household waste, but also to dispose of it responsibly.

I should also point out that the idea of a local Skate Park was brought to the Lib Dems by local youths. The Tories then high-jacked it and implemented it without any consultation with local residents and in an area where it gets frequently vandalised.

John Jones' letter seemed to consist of spin and sound bites. Is this yet another example of how New Labour and the Conservatives are becoming indistinguishable from each other?

Cllr. Steve Kulka

Liberal Democrat Group Leader

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council