Stockport Conservatives have today launched a campaign to stop Stockport Liberal Democrat plans to impose an annual £59 Garden tax charge for the collection of residents green bins.
Under Liberal Democrat proposals, over 100,000 households across the borough will be forced to either pay £59 to have their garden waste removed or forced to dispose of the garden waste themselves.
On top of this Liberal Democrats propose to reduce residents Blue Bin collections from once a fortnight to once every 4 weeks.
Conservative Councillor Peter Crossen has reacted with dismay and disappointment,
Only last month, the leader of the Council Mark Hunter stated, and i quote, green bin collections have never been under threat- to say otherwise is untrue.
Meanwhile, he knew full well, he and his party were plotting to scrap green bin collections altogether for those who refused to pay a £59 additional charge ON TOP of what is the highest Council Tax rates in Greater Manchester.
With residents going through difficult financial times right now, many will find this unaffordable, and with the added potential for an increase in fly tipping and people burning their garden waste, it confuses me how this Council can claim to be fighting hard on environmental issues such as climate change?
I and my Stockport conservative colleagues cannot and will not support this proposal.