Prospect of U-turn on skip site plans

Monifieth may stay open, as council to look again at recycling plans

A radical rethink of controversial changes to Angus recycling provision could be on the cards, The Courier can reveal.

Cost-cutting measures agreed by the SNP-led authority last year caused fury in Angus communities and earmarked Monifieth skip site for closure next month, with reduced operating hours planned for Carnoustie and Brechin.

The wide-ranging plans led to town hall protests, but the new Angus administration will bring forward a motion to Forfar’s full council meeting on Thursday proposing the setting up of a member/office group tasked with re-examining the proposals – meaning a stay of execution for Monifieth.

Council leader Bob Myles said: “There will be a challenge but maybe there’s a way we can do things better.”

Controversial plans to radically change Angus’s recycling look set to be re-examined this week, The Courier can exclusively reveal.

The “extremely difficult” decision to close Monifieth’s recycling centre was made to save others across the county last year.

However, in a motion, seen by The Courier, the new Angus administration will seek full council permission to re-examine the decision taken by the SNP-led council last year.

This will stay the axe over Monifieth on July 23 and the shortening of hours at Carnoustie and Brechin from July 24.

Angus Council’s plans to shut five centres were rejected in favour of one closure and reduced hours in Brechin and Carnoustie, which were targeted during the hunt for £250,000 in recycling savings. Protesters picketed every public meeting of the cashstrapped local authority in the run-up to the decision in May.

Council leader Bob Myles said: “We felt we can go forward with a group which will reflect a lot of the concerns we are getting at the doors and from constituents.

“Our wish is to do this over the summer and have something ready for the first meeting of council after the recess, on September 7.

“If it delivers a better service and addresses those concerns, we can take things forward.

“We’ve the same resources we did before the change in administration.

“Everyone’s opinion will be taken on board and the opposition will be represented.”

The 10 week-deferral would cost £33,000 and a future report would deal with the additional cost if changes are made on September 7.

Monifieth will incur extra staff costs and a renewal of access rights for a minimum of six months with the Ministry of Defence.

Extra hours at Brechin and Carnoustie would also have to be paid for.

Everyone’s opinion will be taken on board and the opposition will be represented