Street cleaning ‘appalling’

MP blames situation on council for closing recycling centre

THE level of street cleanliness in Hayes is 'appalling' according to an MP.

Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell blamed Hillingdon Council, which previously privatised the Rigby Lane Recycling Centre, for closing the facility, which he said had left the south of the borough with no alternatives.

He said: “We cannot go on like this. The streets are filthy. Fly-tipping is a consistent problem.”

The Labour MP added: “I opened the recycling centre in Rigby Lane as a GLC [Greater London Council] councillor in the 1980s and now the Tories have closed it.”

Mr McDonnell

has written to the council demanding they re-open the recycling centre.

Council leader councillor Ray Puddifoot hit back at Mr McDonnell, accusing him of talking ‘absolute nonsense’.

He said: “We have excellent recycling rates in the borough and we are the greenest borough in London, so as usual John McDonnell is talking absolute nonsense.

“The Rigby Lane site closed over five years ago. Where has he been?

“The suggestion that, unlike the residents in the rest of the borough, his constituents are not able to deal with their waste is pretty insulting.

“We host special waste weekends in Tavistock Road, West Drayton, so it is completely untrue to say there are no facilities in the south.

“Our residents tell us they are extremely satisfied with our weekly waste and recycling services, which we will continue to offer free of charge, unlike many neighbouring boroughs.”