Garden waste charge to go ahead despite petition

Politicians decided to continue with the arrangements and review them later

Plans to charge for garden waste collections in Shropshire are to go ahead, despite widespread anger from local residents and a petition signed by more than 1,800 people.

The petition started by Julie Mitchell, from Pant, Oswestry, requested the annual charge of £56 per year for each green bin to be significantly reduced and the booking system for recycling centres to be scrapped.

A council spokesperson said politicians decided "to continue with the arrangements as planned and to review them over the coming year" at Thursday’s full council meeting.

The paid-for collections are due to start on 1 October.

The council began taking annual payments of £56 after saying it could no longer afford to provide the service.

Previously, there was no charge, but residents have argued it was not free.

Edward Bevan contacted the BBC and said: “The service has never been provided for free, since it has been part of our council tax, and continues to be at least until the end of March 2025."

Another reader said: "I pay over £3,000 in council tax, make no demands on the council, except to empty my bins... I am not the only one paying over the odds.”

On Tuesday, the council's deputy leader Ian Nellins defended the move on BBC Radio Shropshire.

He said: "Everybody knows that all local authorities are having issues with finances.

"We would have done it earlier, but we can’t afford to wait any longer."