Conservatives threaten three weekly black bin collections

Conservative-led Bedford Borough Council in their latest  Resources Waste Strategy consultation are suggesting a three-weekly black bin collection, on top of announcing a £56 cost for their planned annual subscription for garden waste collections. They are also wanting to bring in a compulsory booking system for the Household Waste and Recycling Centre (‘The Tidy Tip’). 

The consultation also indicates that the tidy tip may also be moved from its current central location in Barker’s Lane to an out-of-town location.

Cllr Henry Vann, leader of Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats, commented, 

“This is a complete nightmare. Those with larger families and those with medical needs will be horrified by these proposals for 3 weekly bin collections. And hot summers will only make it worse. It will lead to more littering and fly-tipping as bins wait even longer for collection, and increase issues with pests, smells, and flies." 

“This Conservative administration is out of touch with residents’ needs; collection of rubbish is the basic essential service we expect from our councils. We should be making recycling at the Tidy Tip easier not harder. Having to book in advance just adds an extra barrier, particularly for those not confident or able to use online systems. We want meaningful proposals to increase recycling, not just cost cutting reductions in services.”