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Vol 25 l Issue 29
18 July 2018
INSIDE THIS WEEK:
MOUNT GARAGE Prescot Road, Melling L31 1AR
Daring duo’s towering challenge
CALL TO SCRAP CONTROVERSIAL £25 BIN CHARGE Report by Henry James AN extraordinary meeting of West Lancs Council’s cabinet tonight (Wednesday) will discuss proposals to scrap the controversial £25 charge for residents who want a blue wheelie bin to collect glass, cans and plastic bottles. The council is no longer collecting the majority of residents’ blue boxes and is asking them instead to use blue wheelie bins, which come at a cost of £25. The cabinet is also set to consider proposals to extend the July 16 deadline to October 31 for those residents who use blue boxes (or other containers) for paper and cardboard to order a green bin, free of charge. The council says funding of £200,000 will be needed to fund blue and green wheelie bins to those properties that are using boxes or other containers or previously had a box until October 31. If the proposals are approved residents who have purchased a blue wheelie bin since March 12 to replace a blue box or other containers, could be refunded. Since March 12, when the service change was introduced, a total of 401 blue wheelie bins have been purchased by residents at a cost of £25, generating income of £10,025.
0151 547 1831 OR 0151 546 5100 OPTION 2
Councillor David Westley
Meanwhile the Conservative group at West Lancashire Borough Council has introduced a motion on the agenda for today’s full council meeting opposing the council’s decision to stop the collection of recyclables from blue boxes. They are also against the introduction of a £25 charge for blue wheelie bins. They want to see the continuation of collections from blue boxes and bags until the end of October 2018; residents to be able to have a blue wheelie bin free of charge; and a refund to all residents who have recently purchased a blue bin with the cost to be met
from council reserves. The motion has been included on the agenda by Conservative group leader, Councillor David Westley. It reads: “When the Conservatives introduced the blue wheelie bin in 2013, it was offered free of charge to every property in the borough, although residents were also given the option of continuing to use their blue box and bag. “The Conservatives have always seen refuse and recycling collections as essential frontline services, ones that should be funded from council tax and not by the imposition of additional charges. “Earlier this year the Conservative Group welcomed the introduction of the brown wheelie bin for garden waste and the use of the green wheelie bin for paper and cardboard collections. In line with Conservative policy, the brown wheelie bin and green wheelie bins, for properties without one, were both provided free of charge. “The recent decision to stop the collection of recyclables from blue boxes and blue bins together with the imposition of a £25 charge for a blue wheelie bin is contrary to the council’s previous policy and unfair. Labour have allowed the recent changes to be slipped in under delegated authority without any democratic debate on what was a clear change in policy.”
Opening of college’s new £2m centre Police presence to be stepped up in Birch Green area following stabbing POLICE are to increase their presence in Birch Green after a 34-year-old man was stabbed in the area in the underpass near to Woodland Primary School just before 11pm on Saturday, July 14. The victim is said to be in a ‘stable’ condition at Aintree Hospital. Officers are appealing for witnesses to the incident or anyone who may have witnessed any persons acting suspiciously in the area at the time. The investigation team are also keen to hear from residents in the vicinity of the attack who have CCTV which may have captured something that would help them with their inquiries. Vigilant Following the incident Skelmersdale Police posted the following notice on their social media account: “Police would also like to offer reassurance as this appears to be an isolated incident. “However, local residents are urged to remain vigilant at this time and report any suspicious activity to the police. “Residents may also see an increased police presence in the area. “Any information should be directed to DC 1092 Karen
Incident comes just weeks after knife attack near Concourse Harrison on 01695 566181 at Skelmersdale Police Station (quote log reference - LC20180714-1928). Alternatively, members of the public can also provide information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 quoting the same log reference.” Although police have described the latest stabbing as “an isolated incident”, it comes just weeks after another knife attack in the town. On Thursday, June 28 a man was stabbed by a gang close to the Concourse shopping centre in Skelmersdale between 1.30pm and 1.50pm in an attack described by police at the time as “shocking and brutal.” The victim, 20, was walking on a footbridge near to the shopping centre in Southway when he was approached from behind by several men. He was stabbed in the back and both arms and was taken to hospital with what were described as “serious but not life-threatening injuries.”
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