Moves to reverse planned cuts to recycling services in Angus should go even further, according to a local councillor.
The Courier revealed on Monday how Angus Council’s new administration plans to delay July’s closure of Monifieth recycling centre and the reduction of opening hours at Brechin and Carnoustie skips.
Thursday’s meeting of full council will be asked to agree a 10-week hiatus while councillors and local authority officers thrash out an alternative way to save almost £250,000 a year.
Nascent plans to close Forfar and Kirriemuir dumps in order to build a “superskip”, possibly in Padanaram, were examined last year but were left in limbo pending May’s local government election.
Newly-elected Forfar Conservative Braden Davy wants his colleagues to shelve such plans indefinitely.
“I campaigned to save Forfar’s recycling facilities, so this delay is welcome,” he said.
“However this new group should go further and scrap plans to merge facilities between Forfar and Kirriemuir.
“I simply could not support any plan which would leave Forfar without recycling facilities.”
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.
The 10-week deferral will 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.
The motion to council on Thursday states: “This council defers implementation of the closures and changes to hours for the recycling centres; establishes a member/officer group of six members (four administration, two non-administration) to review the proposals as contained in report 209/16 and as agreed and amended at the Communities committee; officers bring forward a report on the conclusions of the MOG to the meeting of Angus Council on Sept 7 2017; and notes the financial implications.”
