WANDSWORTH’S TORIES CUT FREE GARDEN

Local Lib Dems have condemned the latest Conservative spending cuts to fall on local services. Before 1 April, Wandworth residents could have their garden waste collected free of charge.

Under the Conservatives’ new rules, local people are now having to pay £16.50 for the service. Under the new system, people will need to stack up to twenty sacks of waste in their gardens before they can be collected. As local campaigner Anna Ahmed said, “Many people in the Southfields area take a great pride in their gardens, and make sure that the outside of their properties are kept tidy and attractive. If you can image twenty sacks hanging around your front garden, it will not be a pretty sight!”

Local Liberal Democrat Tony Burrett said: “It will be difficult for some pensioners to carry all these sacks to the front of their houses. For the thousands of people here who take pride in their gardens this is a real insult”.

Local campaigner Adam Towner said: “Liberal Democrats believe that recycling and composting should be made easier for residents, not harder. This council spent over £88,000 on clearing up fly-tipping last year. This new system can only make it worse, as people despair of having garden waste piled up in their gardens!”