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Green bin maths wrong

THE story on SBC’s green bin service suggests the council fears the price hike may lead to a fall in users.

In 2014 a council report stated 16,600 homes would participate in the scheme, three years on we discover only 15,600 have signed up.

The16,600 was presented as a “precise fact about the costing for the green waste collection scheme.”

When I challenged the ‘revised’ proposal that stated more residents would ‘happily’ pay £40 rather than £35 I was derided for being negative.

I stand by my view that only in the fairy tale land of the Civic Offices could an increase in charges be expected to result in greater participation.

I also repeat my view that officers were so hell-bent on introducing the scheme they presented a scenario which ignored reality.

To support my contention I noted that the number of survey respondents who said they would pay for GCW was 18 per cent, which translated into 15 per cent of the borough.

However, 15 per cent wasn’t a good enough figure to argue in favour so the report ended with a view that “the survey may have attracted more response from opponents of the idea than from those who support it.” Hence the more ‘precise’ figure for support of the idea was set at 20 per cent, just below the break-even figure.

SBC suggests ‘an increase in demand’ is partly to blame for the need to increase prices by 25 per cent, whereas the need to raise the price is because of a failure on the part of SBC to attract the users to provide a ‘break-even’ service.

Perhaps Coun Williams will now confirm whether SBC ever achieved the promised £729,000 a year savings which it said would be made.

DES MORGAN

Caraway Drive

Swindon

No answers here

THE saga of asking questions about Swindon Council is now a series of either case closed or no reply at all.

1. The fiasco about allotment charges, ended up with me asking three questions to Mr Barrett, no reply.

2. I asked about the precept payments, and why we were paying for ‘enhanced’ services. Sent to council leader, parish leader and parish clerk, leader said matter closed, nothing heard from the other two people.

3. I asked why we’re paying twice for the same services, was told by the borough solicitor that the finance dept would answer, no reply.

4. I asked why, if this parish must take over responsibility for the toilets in Chapel Street, why they are paying £8,000 over three years to repair it. If the council won’t do the job, then surely they can at least hand it over in good order? No reply again.

I went to the Citizens Bureau to get advice on court action, only to be told this wasn’t their remit so they wouldn’t answer. So now I have to go back to town and get official legal representation on this matter.

I’m sure, when I show the judge the reply from the council that, as I only plant my seeds from April, it’s only right I pay 2017 charges, he’ll find in my defence...

TERRY REYNOLDS

Wheeler Ave

Swindon