Latest Meols FOCUS newsletter

Here is the latest FOCUS newsletter from Meols Ward Liberal Democrats, which was recently delivered to residents of Churchtown, Crossens and Marshside.

Recycling success

Years of campaigning have finally paid off for local residents who want to recycle cardboard and plastic.

The Council have announced that kerbside collection for cardboard and plastics will be introduced in April this year. A survey carried out by pupils at Larkfield Primary School last year found that well over 90% of local parents were in favour of this additional recycling.

Jo Barton has been campaigning for better recycling for years

Local Liberal Democrat campaigner Jo Barton is delighted. She said: “For ages, Sefton Council refused to consider collecting cardboard and plastic for recycling. Their refusal meant many residents having to take regular loads to the recycling centres themselves by car. This costs money for fuel and adds to CO2 emissions.

"I’m delighted that Sefton has finally seen the light and will be joining Lancashire and other nearby Councils in collecting cardboard and plastics from the kerbside.”

Jo added: “I believe Southport should be leading the way as a ‘Green Town’. Recycling should be at the top of that agenda."

Meols FOCUS newsletter

Here is the latest FOCUS newsletter from Meols Ward Liberal Democrats, which is currently being delivered to residents of Churchtown, Crossens and Marshside.

Jo Barton sees red over green waste

Local Lib Dem candidate Jo Barton has hit out at Sefton Council for what she sees as a patronising attitude towards recycling. Jo saw red when she found out that a Sefton Cabinet member was boasting about Sefton achieving a 40% recycling rate.

Jo, who is recycling enthusiast, said "I believe Southport should be leading the way as a Green Town and recycling should be at the top of that agenda.

Cllr John Dodd and Jo Barton support recycling

"Recent figures published by Sefton Council claim that we now recycle 40% of our waste, but I take issue with the Cabinet member for thinking that is something to be proud of.

"I believe with the right measures we can easily raise our recycling rate to 60% or even higher. However our record for what we recycle is much worse than it should be as the Council does not collect cardboard and plastics at the kerbside.

"In Lancashire our counterparts currently do take cardboard and plastic bottles and in Wigan the council there also takes plastic containers such as margarine tubs, yoghurt pots and food trays.

"I would like to see Sefton Council copy Wigan in that regard and commence full kerbside collection as soon as possible.

"There is no excuse for Sefton not to take cardboard and plastic waste and their refusal is leading to many residents having to take regular loads to the recycling centres themselves by car which is costing them money for fuel and adding to CO2 emissions.

"It is ridiculous to be congratulating people when, according to a survey carried out in conjunction with Larkfield Primary School pupils, 98% of residents are in favour of recycling and want to see their plastics and cardboard taken at the kerbside.

Meols FOCUS newsletter

Here is the latest FOCUS newsletter from Meols Ward Liberal Democrats, which was delivered to residents of Churchtown, Crossens and Marshside recently.

Sefton Council to charge for emptying green wheelie bins

Sefton Council has launched a consultation on charging to empty green wheelie bins. But this is not a consultation on whether to introduce a charge – that has already been decided. The reason for consulting is to find out how much people are prepared to pay.

Labour used their majority control of Sefton Council to steam-roller through the principle of charging to empty the green bins, against Liberal Democrat opposition. The Sefton budget assumes that the charge to empty a green bin will be £46 a year and that over one-in-four households will agree to pay this amount.

Sefton Council will charge to empty green bins

Councillor Nigel Ashton explains "This is a very bad idea. Few people will pay to have their green bins emptied and there will be a large increase in the amount of garden waste going into landfill. The amount Sefton has to pay in landfill tax will rise sharply as a result."

"Not only is this an anti-green measure, it makes no economic sense."

To have your say on the green waste charge please visit Sefton Council's website here. The consultation ends on 14th June. The charge for collecting green waste is due to start in 2014.

Latest Meols FOCUS newsletter

Here is the latest FOCUS newsletter from Meols Ward Liberal Democrats, which has been delivered to the streets of Churchtown, Crossens and Marshside.

Conservatives trash recycling plan

A plan for Sefton Council to collect plastic and cardboard for recycling has been knocked back by Conservative Minister Eric Pickles.

Last year the Lib Dems proposed that Sefton Council should apply for a grant of £1million from a Government fund to support waste collection.

Cllr John Dodd and Jo Barton are campaigning for cardboard and plastic recycling collection.

This cash would have allowed Sefton to collect cardboard and plastic for recycling from every house with the green box collection each week.

The Council did apply for the money and were all ready to go ahead with the recycling plan, but Eric Pickles turned it down.

Instead, the Conservative Minister has supported a very limited scheme to collect plastic and cardboard from just 16,000 houses - all of them in Bootle.