Thetford councillor to continue waste fight

A Thetford councillor will continue to fight after his proposal to Norfolk County Council about their DIY waste charges was defeated this week.

Labour Cllr, Terry Jermy, called for a suspension on them at the full council meeting to give them time to see the bigger picture.

He said: "I hoped for an acceptance to suspend the charges for a conclusive review and look at the impact the charges are having,

"I am disappointed and feel it is a missed opportunity as now we will have to endure the continuation of issues."

The council said charges on DIY construction and demolition waste would save £280,000 a year after being introduced in April.

But the councillor disagrees and said during the meeting: "In April this year, following the introduction of the new charges, there were 1,158 incidents of fly-tipping in Norfolk reported to district councils. That’s an increase of 24 percent on the figure for the same period last year.

"Breckland has just collected 1,000 tonnes of fly-tipped material and the cost of clearing that has now topped a quarter of a million pounds."

Breckland Council say in April to June 2017, 215 incidents of fly tipping were recorded, costing £11,542 to deal with 44.06 tonnes of waste.

During the same time this year it had increased to 252 incidents, costing £14,362 to sort 65.96 tonnes.

The Liberal Democrats tabled an amendment at the meeting to scrap the charges but were defeated by 43 votes to 27 and Labour’s original motion lost by 43 votes to 26.

Cllr Jermy hoped at the Environment Development and Transport Committee meeting on September 7, they would see the impact of the charges.

He said: "They are going to receive a written report collating some of the information and I will be pushing at that meeting for a fuller report to include all the issues and this hopefully will make them have a rethink."

For details about the waste charges, go to www.norfolk.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling-and-planning/rubbish-and-recycling/diy-waste