West Lindsey Announces Christmas Waste Service Changes

Most properties in the West Lindsey district will be affected by changes to refuse and recycling collections between Monday, 24th December 2012 and Friday, 4th January 2013.

Local residents can click here to check details of the collection date in their area. 

Residents should refer to their calendar which was delivered to households in October. Residents are also reminded that bins must be out by 7am.
All properties in the South West Ward of Gainsborough on a sack service will be collected on their normal day. This is Thursday for refuse and Friday for recycling.

For any queries please contact the council's Customer Services Team on 01427 676676.

If you have any extra waste to dispose of during this time, the opening hours of local Household Waste Recycling Centres are as follows:

• Summergangs Lane, Lea, Road, Gainsborough 9am – 4pm Open Friday to Monday
• The Rasens, Gallamore Lane, Market Rasen 9am – 4pm Open Friday to Monday
• Great Northern Terrace, Lincoln 9am – 4pm Open Monday to Sunday

All sites are closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day

Please visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/hwrc for further information.

County Councillor Criticises Town Council Colleagues

A Liberal Democrat County Councillor has launched a bazaar attack on his colleagues on Gainsborough Town Council.

Cllr. Mick Tinker, Liberal Democrat (Gainsborough Hill Division) has demanded to know why his Liberal Democrat colleagues (they have 12 of 18 councillors) in control of Gainsborough Town Council failed to discuss a planning application until only a handful of days remained before a decision would be taken by Lincolnshire County Council.

The criticism is published on the Gainsborough Liberal Democrats website it points out that Gainsborough Town Council received the planning application at the end of November last year, and mentions that three council meetings elapsed before the matter was discussed.  Cllr. Tinker, doubtlessly with one eye on re-election in 2013, objects to a proposal for a waste and refuse facility which will see the districts rubbish being processed potentially close to homes, which have yet to be built.

Whilst it is odd that Cllr. Tinker has attacked a council run by his Liberal Democrat colleagues, what is truly surprising is that Mr. Barry Coward, the Chairman of Gainsborough Liberal Democrats, who took up his post at the start of 2012, has decided to publish the article on an official party website. It will be interesting to see what, if any, response follows from the Liberal Democrats on Gainsborough Town Council.

Changes to Waste Services At West Lindsey

Garden waste collections in West Lindsey will be suspended from November until the end of February 2012, councillors have decided.

This decision was approved by the Prosperous Communities Committee on Wednesday and will help the council save a total of £168,000.

Waste Services Manager, Mr. Glyn Pilkington explained that during the winter months there is a dramatic reduction in the amount of garden waste collected. He said:

“All councils have to make significant savings and we’ve had to review everything we deliver and make some tough decisions – including suspending garden waste collections.

“We apologise for the inconvenience, and we are here to answer any questions residents may have.”

Prior to the decision, the council consulted with members of West Lindsey’s Citizens’ Panel where more than 850 responded to a recent survey.

Residents are now being encouraged to consider composting their garden waste or take it to their local household waste recycling centre (HWRC).

There will also be a restructure of the refuse and recycling collections from the start of November 2011. This may mean a change of collection day for some residents.

New waste collection calendars will be delivered to all homes in West Lindsey during October and residents are asked to read their new calendars carefully to see how the changes will affect them.

The changes are aimed at giving local people better value for money by making the refuse and recycling collection rounds more cost effective and at the same time reducing carbon emissions.

Chairman of the Prosperous Communities Committee, Councillor Malcolm Parish, Conservative (Welton Ward), said:

“Councils have no choice but to be smarter about how they spend money.

“By restructuring our rounds we can make this considerable saving without reducing the quality of service to local people.

“The green garden waste service is popular and well used throughout most of the year but our lorries collect much less during the winter months and our residents have told us that this is an area we should look at to make efficiency savings.”

Other options for garden waste disposal include home composting.  Subsidised composters starting at £15 are available by contacting 0844 571 4444 or by ordering on line at http://www.lincscc.getcomposting.com/

Alternatively, you can use your local Household Waste Recycling Centre – further information is available at www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/hwrc
.