THERE’S a new glimmer of hope that under-threat Saturday morning recycling services in South Holland’s outlying towns and villages can be saved.
Lincolnshire County Council looked likely to pull the plug on the £40,000-plus funding given to South Holland District Council to provide recycling skips in Donington, Holbeach, Crowland, Gedney Hill, Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge.
But district councilor Roger Gambba-Jones, whose portfolio includes waste collection, is “cautiously optimistic” that the county council will now be able to make alternative savings so the recycling service can continue.
He said: “I can’t put words in the county council’s mouth but they are being as helpful as they can be and we think at this stage we have actually got a way forward.
“County councillor William Webb is discussing things at the county level on behalf of this area – South Holland – and we are very optimistic.
“Providing they don’t get any other bumps in the road from their budgetary side of things, I think they are going to help us out.”
He believes the allocation for the recycling service will be included in the budget to go before the county’s ruling executive towards the end of this month.
But the proposal has to be passed by the executive – and then agreed by the full council – before the service is finally safe.
l The feared loss of the service sparked criticism from the district councillor for Long Sutton ward, David Wilkinson, and members of Sutton Bridge Parish Council last week expressed their dismay.
Speaking last month to our sister paper, the Lincolnshire Free Press, Coun Wilkinson said the loss of the skips would be a negative step as they were well used in Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge.
He said: “I am sure it will mean about 200 more cars a week on the road as responsible people take their rubbish to Spalding and more fly-tipping by irresponsible people – saving £40,000 will probably cost £50,000 in cleaning it up.”