RECENT complaints from the Alton community concerning the new system of garden waste collection being brought in by East Hampshire District Council, have now been echoed by Alton Town Council.
It was Peter Whitmarsh who led the criticism being directed at district council representative Jim McKell at the town councilÕs meeting last Thursday.
Mr Whitmarsh said: ÒIf the bags that are now to contain garden waste are to be put into landfill as has been suggested, then this is a fraudulent system.
ÒIt appears that it is in place for the purposes of raising revenue, meaning that it will be an unfair tax. People will be taxed regardless of circumstances, and it is those such as the elderly with no car who will be penalised the most.
ÒIf the district needs more money, it should raise council tax, not implement stealth taxes.Ó
Mr WhitmarshÕs thoughts were backed up by colleague Dave Crocker who said: ÒThe district council has a moral obligation to encourage recycling, and to be honest, it never has. Now, by putting these charges on plastic bags, they are now actively discouraging the recycling of green waste. It is not good to put a tax on recycling.Ó
Town mayor David Willoughby summarised the thoughts of the town council by asking Mr McKell to: ÒPlease make it clear to the district council that there is a high degree of dissatisfaction as regards these plans.Ó