Maldon district: Councillor vows to fight for axed waste service (From Gazette)

Maldon district: Councillor vows to fight for axed waste service

3:30pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Maldon By Ryan Jennings

COUNCILLORS will be forced to revisit the decision to axe Saturday morning garden waste collection when Maldon District Council meets in full next Thursday.

David Sismey (Con, Great Totham) has vowed to fight to reverse the decision made by members of the finance and corporate services committee on Tuesday, January 24.

“I fully intend to bring the subject up for discussion on Thursday,” said Mr Sismey.

“It is something which has attracted a lot of public support and we cannot ignore an opportunity to reflect on it at council.

“There was a perception that it was not as necessary as some parts of the waste contract but efficiency savings have been made so this is something the council really needs to be looking at.”

Finance and corporate services committee members were divided in the decision to cut the service but chairman Peter Elliott used his casting vote to go against reinstating the service.

Mr Sismey added: “We know it is a popular service and we have been told by officers a bi-weekly collection would not work because the amount of waste every two weeks would be too great.”

A report put to councillors said the service has been used by 514 customers a week.

Last year £36,894 was spent on the service by Maldon District Council.