Skip ruling appeal thrown out

Attempts to reverse a decision to scrap community skips in north and south Shropshire have failed, it emerged today.

Campaigners had asked for the decision to be called in after Shropshire Council's cabinet voted to end the scheme last month. More than 400 people from in and around Church Stretton signed a petition in support of keeping their skip at Crossways Industrial Estate in the town.

But Councillor Alan Mosley, chairman of the council's development services scrutiny committee, said the decision would not be re-considered.

Councillor Mosley said: "We had a very full discussion about this at the last scrutiny committee. Members of the public from Wem, Church Stretton and Bishop's Castle spoke against the proposal.

"All issues were considered in detail. A large majority of the committee voted in support of the officer's recommendation. As there do not appear to be any new issues arising, I do not feel that any good purpose would be served by the committee looking at it again."

Councillor Mosley said that of the 76 councillors asked for their views on moves to scrap the skips, only five had responded.

Supporters of the skips have reacted angrily.

Bill Kerswell, who lives near Church Stretton and collected the signatures, said: "The main problem is that nobody knew about the proposed closures.

"No notice was posted on the site and nobody had anything through the post. People have been appalled to find out about it and they didn't know it was happening."

Councillor Roy Aldcroft, Mayor of Market Drayton, said: "I think it's downright disgusting that without any reference to the people who use it and to the town council that this decision has been arbitrarily taken and I hope they've put some money into the budget to clear the fly-tipping which is certain to occur as a result."

Councillor James Gibson, who represents Church Stretton and Craven Arms, said: "As well as the petition, I've had a large number of letters and e-mails. It's ridiculous to expect people in this area to take their recycling to Craven Arms. We have drivers in their 90s who don't want to use the A49."

Councillor Nigel Hartin said: "I am extremely annoyed that Alan Mosley vetoed my request for the ill-considered decision to scrap community skips to be looked at again. I supplied seven reasons why this should be looked at again and the public deserved a better debate."

A cut off point for the service has been given as the end of April.

By Hannah Costigan