Council under pressure as bin ‘tax’ backlash grows

PERTH AND KINROSS: Plan to be discussed as hundreds protest £25 collection fee

Council bosses are under increasing pressure to ditch the controversial brown-lidded bin “tax”.

The local authority will today discuss the move to charge Perth and Kinross residents at least £25 for collection of the garden and food waste bin as part of its budget proposals.

Council chiefs have already said the charge will come into effect on April 1 but it has been widely slammed by thousands of residents.

An online petition against the charge, started by Almondbank resident Fiona Menzies-Henderson, has attracted hundreds of signatures.

She said: “The council have honed in and seen an opportunity to raise money for their spending.

“This is a stealth tax no matter how you look at it and it’s disgusting.”

The local authority agreed year ago that it would introduce the controversial bin permit.

A petition opposing a controversial move to charge £25 for the disposal of garden waste has attracted hundreds of signatures.

Perth and Kinross Council has stated it will introduce the permit for the collection of brown-lidded bins on April 1, leading to a major backlash with many residents claiming they will refuse to pay the charge.

An online petition started by Almondbank resident Fiona Menzies-Henderson just over a week ago has seen close to 1,000 residents say they bitterly oppose the brown-lidded bin permit.

Mrs Henderson said: “This petition is for signatures from people in Perth and Kinross areas who disagree with the council making a new chargeable payment to the garden waste bins.

“Garden waste bins in most cases are brown lidded bins. They have been collected since the early 2000s.

“The council have honed in and seen an opportunity to raise money for their spending. This is a stealth tax no matter how you look at it and it’s disgusting.”

Her views were echoed by hundreds of residents who are against the garden waste permit charge.

Kim Coram commented: “This is absolutely terrible. I don’t see why we should pay £25 to get our bins emptied – no wonder people fly tip.”

Emma Campbell added: “This is just ridiculous. Isn’t this part of what we pay council tax for?”

Elizabeth Porter said: “This is disgusting and just another way for Perth and Kinross Council to get money out of hard working folk.”

Scores of council tenants in the North Muirton area of Perth have already claimed they won’t cut local authority owned areas of grass at their homes due to being incensed at the permit.

Tracey Calderwood stated: “I have a council property with a garden. The council expect me to keep it tidy and cut their grass and they want me to pay them to take their grass cuttings away – something wrong here!”

Although the move has yet to be officially signed off by councillors, mailshots explaining the new rules have been posted to thousands of residents.

Local MP Pete Wishart has suggested the lack of consultation should see the idea ditched.

A council spokesperson said they will not be providing a comment as the matter will be discussed at their budget meeting tomorrow.

Councillors will consider increasing the cost to £30 as part of a new budget plan. If approved, the move would save the local authority an estimated £180,000.

This is a stealth tax no matter how you look at it and it is digusting.

FIONA MENZIES-HENDERSON