FEARS were raised over residents burning their garden waste or throwing it into ditches as a plan to introduce a collection charge was debated.

Lexden and Braiswick councillor Dennis Willetts, chairman of the council’s scrutiny panel, summarised the panel’s discussion of the budget at a recent cabinet meeting.

He said the debate included a “startling” description of what could happen in Old Heath if the charge is introduced, with people looking to burn their garden waste.

But he added: “We were of the opinion that most people are going to take on board the offer the council is making on garden waste, because it’s not particularly expensive and it will serve a purpose.

“There may be political reasons why it isn’t supported widely and there may be inertia on the part of residents of the borough to sign up for the scheme.”


READ MORE: Council approves 'tough and challenging' budget as it looks to make £5m in savings


Stanway councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell said she feared residents would not gain a proper understanding of the policy, hitting out at the Gazette for asking its readers whether they would be prepared to pay for garden waste collection.

Of more than 300 respondents to a Gazette survey on the issue, 85 per cent said they would not be prepared to pay the extra cost.

She said: “I had a long conversation, backwards and forwards, with a guy and he posted on several sites, and how do you explain it to him?

“He reads the Gazette, that’s where he gets his news from, he’s not going to come and sit here for hours, listening and getting the basic understanding.

“That sounded very rude and patronising, but you know what I mean.

“The Gazette is there to sell papers. If there’s a poll run like ‘do you want to pay for your garden waste?’, that’s on par with ‘do you want to pay more for your fuel?’ or ‘do you want to pay more for your groceries?’.

“So, we’ve got to keep talking to our residents and councillors.

“The important thing is nothing is set in stone yet, you’re still listening, you’re still working and tweaking.”