Service withdrawn (From Gazette Series)

Service withdrawn

A POPULAR waste disposal service is being withdrawn by Stroud District Council. The council funds a parish skip scheme, which provides residents with two skips per year to dispose of small items of household waste.

But the service is being stopped at the end of March because Gloucestershire County Council is no longer prepared to accept waste from the parish skips.

District council spokesman David Marshall explained the county, as the waste disposal authority, would not take any more waste as it cannot be monitored.

"The waste cannot be regulated and the county is concerned it may therefore breach disposal site licence conditions," he added.

Mr Marshall added other options are being explored.

"But it is worth highlighting that this council provides a substantial waste recycling service," he added. "This has developed considerably since the parish skip service was introduced."

The district council currently offers door-to-door collections of paper, glass, mixed cans, tin foil and plastic bottles. The district also collects household furniture including fridges and cookers.

It also provides recycling facilities at 39 locations around the district, subsidised compost bins and a chargeable collection service for DIY waste.

But Wotton-under-Edge town clerk Glenys Sykes said she believes residents would miss the parish skip service.

"The service certainly was well used,' she added. "Whenever a skip was here it was filled up very quickly and I am sure members will have something to say about the withdrawal of the service at next week's town council."