Paul Johnston

I have just rung the firm that supplies the bags to order two. One is entitled to order two. To qualify for the concessionary price one has to be either a state pensioner or registered disabled. I was told that I could expect delivery 'within 28 days', so I will have to wait from tomorrow to an unspecified day 4 weeks hence for the bags to arrive. I shall faithfully record this event here.

Meanwhile anyone else wishing to obtain a bag or bags should ring 0845 0738990. 

A resident raised the question at last week's Neighbourhood Committee of the operation of the new hessian bag scheme for collecting green waste.

Instead of the plastic bags one could buy for 75p from the Library, one now has to ring a number at the Environment Dept. and have a green hessian sack delivered at a cost of £35 (£20 for pensioners and disabled). This bag is reusable and designed to be used for one year after which it will be collected and recycled. For next year you will need a new bag, probably differently coloured, costing as above.

The resident pointed out that he had been charged the full annual fee for his bag when the scheme only came into force on 1st April and he has learnt that his bag will not be usable after 1st January 2008, so he will only have got 9 months use having paid for 12 months.

That this is indeed so was confirmed by the Executive member for Biodiversity and Sustainability, Cllr. Liz Shard (LD St. Mark's Ward), who went on to point out that a bag bought next January for 2008 use may not actually be usable after September 1st. when a new waste contract comes into force. This could leave residents paying charges for two calendar years but only receiving 17 months-worth of service for their money.

Earlier entries on this site have spelt out the view the Kingston Conservative Group takes on the current Berrylands trial, using multiple recycling containers and collecting general household waste fortnightly.

This was a major issue nationwide at last week's local elections. I note that Edward Davey now seems rather nervous about it and is trying to get the thoughts of Berrylands trialists so as to gauge which side to come down on.