COVERING WOKINGHAM, FINCHAMPSTEAD, EARLEY, WINNERSH, SHINFIELD, WOODLEY, TWYFORD & SURROUNDING AREAS
THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
THE VOICE OF THE BOROUGH
WOKINGHAM.TODAY
Thursday, August 13, 2020 No. 274
Councillors argue over decision making process for recycling
‘DELAYING NEW SACKS WILL COST US £600,000’ EXCLUSIVE By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokinghampaper.co.uk DELAYING plans to implement new recycling collection sacks will cost the borough at least £600,000, says council leader John Halsall.
But that’s rubbish, according to the Liberal Democrats. Last week, Wokingham Liberal Democrats ‘called in’ a decision by the executive to replace the black boxes used by households for recycling waste with polypropylene sacks that would keep the waste dry. This means the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee – comprising councillors from all sides of the political spectrum – will consider whether the ruling executive should be asked to review its decision. But the council says that the decision on the new sacks needed to be made in July to ensure that they could be used before the wet weather arrives in the autumn – changes introduced by recycling firms last year meant that while previously wet cardboard had been no problem, it is no longer being accepted. And with Wokingham Borough Council voting to be as carbon neutral as possible by 2030, boosting recycling rates is important. Councils also face fines and costs if their recycling does not meet targets. The delay, council leader John Halsall says, will cost it between £15,000 and £20,000 a week. Cllr Halsall said: “The Liberal Democrats’ call-in means we won’t implement the solution between now and Christmas, the solution will launch in January so the delay is calculated to cost us short of £300,000.” “We’ve already lost four weeks, which is £70,000.” � Continued on page 4
Upstanding citizen
70p
TRIBUTES MADE TO FORMER COUNCIL LEADER P7
BUSY PHONE BOX COULD BE AXED P2
AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD from Keephatch has bought his own litter picker to cleaning his local park. Find out more on page 3
CYCLISTS PEDDLE TO SWISS ALPS P20 TAPAS BAR OWNER BUYS COURTYARD ASSETS P11
ANGER OVER P15 ‘ILLEGAL’ LICENSES ‘PSYCHIC’ PREDICTS SECOND WAVE P17