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Call for views on ending DIY waste charging EXCLUSIVE By PHIL CREIGHTON pcreighton@wokingham.today
THE VOICE OF THE BOROUGH
TO UKRAINE WITH LOVE
Thursday, April 21, 2022
No. 360 90p
GREAT CITIZENS REWARDED P4
A LOOPHOLE that has allowed councils to charge residents for disposing of DIY waste could be closed under new government proposals aimed at reducing fly-tipping.
Last week, the government said it was launching a consultation to seek views on fly-tipping, slot booking, and councils charging for residents’ disposal of DIY waste. In 2015, the government issued guidance that banned backdoor charges on disposing household rubbish at recycling centres such as Reading and Bracknell, run by re3 on behalf of Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell Forest councils. It added that guidance made it clear that this included DIY household waste. However, local authorities argued it was construction waste and charged regardless. By closing this loophole, the government would allow residents to dispose of items such as shower screens, old carpets, tiles, roofing materials, rubble, and paving slabs without having to pay a fee. It hopes that by doing so, it will cut back on fly-tipping, which has risen by 16% in the 2020/21 financial year. And there was an 18% rise in flytipping for construction, demolition and excavation material in the same period – 60,000 cases were recorded. The government also intends to review the use of slot booking for tip visits, introduced during the pandemic, amid fears that it was making it harder for people to dispose of their waste. Environment Minister Jo Churchill said: “We want to make sure that recycling and the correct disposal of rubbish is free, accessible and easy for householders. “No one should be tempted to fly-tip or turn to waste criminals and rogue operators.” n Continued on page 9
MAYOR’S HONOUR FOR COVID CHAMP P8
LIB DEM MANIFESTO PROMISES P10
MERCY DASH: Woodley residents load a van at Storage King on Tuesday, ahead of resident Ronnie Goodberry’s trip to Poland
Woodley gives and gives and gives to help refugees fleeing Putin’s invasion
EXCLUSIVE
By DANIEL BLACKHAM dblackham@rdg.today A WOODLEY resident is making the 2,200 mile round trip to the Ukrainian border to deliver aid to Ukrainian refugees.
Ronnie Goodberry set off for Jaroslaw, in the south-east of Poland, on Tuesday, April 19, and is expected to arrive today, Thursday, April 21. Mr Goodberry has organised
three previous trips to deliver crucial items to those fleeing violence and said he couldn’t sit back and watch what was happening to innocent people. He said: “I was watching the TV when the war started and saw a young girl of maybe five or sixyears-old. “She was sitting on the pavement with her hands on her head and when she moved her hands you could see the tears rolling down her face. n Continued on page 3
SCHOOL’S HELP FOR HOME-START P36 ISSN 2634-8330 16
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