Financial Meltdown - The Real Reason for Cuts In Weekly Bin Collection Service

11.20.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 14th Sep 2007

The leader of Stafford Borough Council's Liberal Democrat and Independent Group, Barry Stamp, has today joined the growing tide of criticism over Stafford Conservatives plan to cut the weekly waste collection service.

Cllr Barry Stamp said he was appalled that only five months after the Conservatives promised local residents they would not reduce weekly waste collections they had now made a "u-turn" and were pressing ahead with the cuts.

"During the run up to the elections in May Stafford Conservatives went out of their way to promise local residents they would not cut the waste collection service. Now they have gone back on their word and are introducing the reduced service from early next year."

"They are trying to say that this has been brought about by the need to increase recycling, but it is clear from looking at next year's budget that the real reason is that the fortnightly service is all they can afford. The financial plan for 2008/09 shows there is a hole of nearly £2Million even after this reduced refuse collection service is introduced."

"After five years of Conservative control the Council is on the brink of financial meltdown and it doesn't take a economics wizard to see the Conservatives have to make massive savings to balance the books."

"Unfortunately the decision to cut the waste collection service was taken by the Conservatives behind closed doors with any opposition Councillors having an input. Not only did the Conservatives lie to local residents on the run up to the elections they are now trying to pull the wool over their eyes over the reason they are cutting the waste service. Tell local residents that the introduction of the fortnightly bin collection id all to do with improving recycling is nothing short of criminal."

"Treating local residents like this does nothing to instill confidence in local government. The Conservatives should apologies immediately and come clean on the real reason this cut to a major service is being made," said Cllr Stamp