Recycling Rates Frozen

Councillor John Shaw (Lib Dem, Brookvale and Kings Furlong) has call on the Conservatives to explain Basingstoke and Deane Councils failure to improve recycling rates.

Councillor Shaw said:

"Back in May 2008, when he first became leader, Councillor Finney said he wanted to see continued improvement in the borough's recycling rate. The Conservative Leader said people should judge his administration on how much it improved recycling - to quote from the Gazette

"I don't believe in half measures," he said. "I will give 110 per cent to the people of Basingstoke and Deane and nothing less is good enough."

Cllr Finney summed up: "If the figures show that we are delivering improved services, if we have

improved further our recycling rate, …… I think that will be a success."

Attacking the Conservatives for their failure to deliver, Lib Dem Councillor Shaw said:

"Recycling rates have been frozen. There has been a dreadful failure to deliver what was promised. Recycling is stuck at 23%. There is no prospect of improvement unless the Council tries something new."

"Last year I asked the Conservatives to return the recycling chart in reception so we could all monitor how the council was progressing. This request has been ignored. No doubt the Conservatives are embarrassed by the fact the chart would show no increase. However, they can't hide the truth from the public. The Conservatives stood on the slogan vote blue, go green, in reality it has been a case of vote blue, get whitewash."