Council leader vows to fight for recycling provision.

Leader’s pledge to look into every option possible

Angus Council’s leader has vowed to leave “no stone unturned” in an attempt to save the county’s recycling provision.

Bob Myles said saving the Monifieth recycling centre from closure is looking “less and less likely” but he wants to explore every possible option that could keep some kind of recycling provision in the town.

Mr Myles will chair a meeting of Monifieth Community Council tonight in the Community Cabin and wants to give residents the chance to have a say.

Next month Mr Myles will also chair a public meeting at Kirriemuir Town Hall about future recycling provision for Kirriemuir and Forfar.

Angus Council last year took the decision to close Monifieth’s recycling centre and replace skips at Forfar and Kirriemuir with a new “supersite” at Padanaram.

The new administration has put the changes on hold while the possibility of a U-turn is examined.

Mr Myles said: “We are reviewing the recycling provision and we want to leave no stone unturned and do everything possible before we decide the way forward.

“It was agreed previously that Monifieth would be shut and we were hoping that we could keep some kind of recycling provision in Monifieth but it is looking less and less likely.

“I do feel that the public should at least be involved and allowed to give us their opinions and bring us their suggestions if there is something out there that we haven’t considered.

“If you take the worst case scenario and Monifieth has to close then at least we have given the public a chance to say something and discuss it.

“The worst thing you can do is make a decision and tell the public that’s what they’re getting.

“I feel the public should have been involved at an early stage.”

Mr Myles said the administration was doing the best it can but stressed it was a position “we don’t want to be in”.

He said: “We don’t necessarily feel we have all the answers and if someone out there has some suggestion that we can take on board then we are very happy to listen to that.”

Monifieth councillor Ben Lawrie said: “Monifieth residents regard local recycling facilities as being very important.

“I’m hoping that many people find the time to come to this public meeting to make sure that their views are heard.

“It’s us folk in Monifieth who will be most affected by any changes to recycling facilities in our town, so it’s only right that us folk in Monifieth lead the conversation on what these changes should look like.”

The worst thing you can do is make a decision and tell the public that’s what they’re getting.

COUNCILLOR BOB MYLES