Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Four-day holiday closures at recycling centre
RESIDENTS of Carnoustie have been told they will not be able to dispose of their Christmas rubbish until tomorrow.
Centres across Angus were shut on Christmas Day and Boxing Day but Carnoustie remained closed yesterday – and locals have been advised it will not reopen until tomorrow. The prolonged closure has been described as unacceptable by independent councillors Brian Boyd and David Cheape.
Angus Council said yesterday’s closure was down to Carnoustie recycling staff using their public holiday entitlement, while the centre was not open on Thursdays as a matter of course.
A spokeswoman said: “As announced in October, opening hours at our recycling centres have changed. In Carnoustie the recycling centre is closed on Tuesday and Thursday.
“Our recycling centre staff are entitled to take their public holidays on their next working day. Given Tuesday is a nonworking day for our Carnoustie staff, they are using their public holiday entitlement from Tuesday December 26 and Tuesday January 2 on the following day — Wednesday December 27 and Wednesday January 3.”
The regular Thursday closure means Carnoustie’s skip will not reopen after the New Year until January 5.
Recycling centre opening times at Arbroath, Carnoustie and Montrose changed following a U-turn on a 2016 decision by the then SNP-led council to approve the closure of the Monifieth dump.
Councillors agreed a raft of revised proposals, including the reduced hours at Carnoustie. Operating times at Monifieth, Forfar and Kirriemuir were unchanged.
Mr Cheape resigned from the ruling administration over what he described as the poor handling of the review.
He said Carnoustie had been unfairly treated as a result of the changes. “Despite my best efforts around the table at council, the best Carnoustie’s recycling yard was to receive was restricted opening hours on some days and closed on others,” he said.