Burntwood Town Council has lashed out at Staffordshire County Council for failing to inform them of the closure which they say is a “disgraceful decision.”
The closure, which was announced by the county council on Friday 28th May was, they were told, due to issues with the size and layout of the site which make it difficult for residents to use, the very close proximity of Burntwood to the Cannock recycling facility and the County Council’s need to identify savings.”
Councillor Doug Constable, Chairman of the Town Council said,
“This is a disgraceful decision of which Conservative controlled County Council should be ashamed. Burntwood’s population matches that of Lichfield and represents one third of the population of the constituency. A Town already short of amenities pro rata to its population’s needs. The people of Burntwood will take convincing that cuts could and should have been made elsewhere and that our Town is receiving another slap in the face that convinces many that our status is not recognised by those who have no regard for the aura of conflicts of interest that result in Councillors operating on too many fronts”.
The Town Council rejected this, stating that Burntwood residents “do not find the site inconvenient to use and that it is appalled at the lack of consultation with the local Council and the townspeople on its closure”.
They will be sending a letter of objection to County Councillor Robert Marshall, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Infrastructure.
I’m surprised the County did not consult widely on this but, I’m not surprised the Town Council has so little influence on this matter.
I hope that this issue enables the town of Burntwood, its population and elected members learn to get involved, have a say, and make a difference!
NO DECISION HAS BEEN PROPERLY MADE YET! The Director for Law and Governance has accepted that proper procedures have not been followed. He has told me that there will either be a Cabinet or a delegated decision in the next two weeks which will allow the decision to be “called-in” to be scrutinised (under a non party whip basis) by the Corporate Review Committee. Cllr Atkins’ reward for joining with the Lib Dems at the County is his appointment as Vice Chair of that Committee – and the Site is in his Division.
To achieve this only 8 members of the Council need to call it in and it essential that our local councillors in Hammerwich and Burntwood (Cllrs, Tranter, Atkins, Lewis, Eagland and Bayliss) use that opportunity when it comes. I am sure my three Labour colleagues will support them triggering the Scrutiny process which the Tory Administration has so arrogantly ignored.
I and my colleague Eric Drinkwater were able to make the case to save it in 2000 our County Councillors can do that now!
I am also sure that our MP will also be supporting his electors in Burntwood and Hammerwich in opposing this cut in front line services – they have waited until after the General Election to do.
And sign the E-petition at: http://tinyurl.com/36uz39j
Makes you wonder if we really need the Town Council, only thing they are consistent with is claiming their expenses and drinking bottle water at their meetings instead of going to the tap for a glass of water like everyone else.
Well put Cllr Norman. If people can call / email / tweet / talk to the County Councillors – this will make a difference!
GET INVOLVED PEOPLE.
Oh, and FYI johnthemon, the Cllrs at Burntwood may think they are drinking bottled water, they are not. They drink Council Pop, AKA Eau de Tap. Don’t ask me how I know, but I do.
Don’t tell Steve Norman, and you ain’t seen me. Right?
Oh dammit……..
Good news about the tap water. It’s bad enough that our MP Is claiming for Accountancy expenses and lambswool-lined leather Blackberry holders from John Lewis without our Councillors drinking bottled water at our expense.
it is awful that they didn’t get told it was closing and it is a real shame. i think there can be big money in recycling but not if they keep getting shut down. i ant to see more being done
It’s always a shame when a recycling centre closes as ultimately it means a lot of people will just bin they’re recycling rather than travelling further afield to use another centre. Plus extra travelling is hardly green in itself!