Community

Views sought about proposed charges for garden waste collections

Householders in the Shropshire Council area are being asked for their views on proposals to introduce a charge for the collection of garden waste – and about proposals for the future operation of the council’s five Household Recycling Centres (HRCs).

A six-week consultation runs from Tuesday 9 April to Monday 20 May 2024.

Shropshire Council is proposing to introduce an annual subscription fee of £52 – the equivalent of £1 a week – to collect garden waste from properties in the Shropshire Council area.

The consultation asks people if they would be willing to pay more than £52 a year if the additional money was used to keep all five HRCs open, and for views on whether the opening times of some recycling centres could be reduced.

The consultation also asks for people’s thoughts about a new permit/booking system for people visiting a recycling centre, to help ensure that they are only used by people from Shropshire.

The proposals are being made as Shropshire Council must make £62m of savings in 2024/25 to keep a balanced budget.

Charging for garden waste collections, and closing two of the council’s five Household Recycling Centres, are among proposals approved by councillors as part of Shropshire Council’s budget cuts for 2024/25.

While garden waste collections in Shropshire are currently free, 80% of English councils already charge for this service, and many have been doing so for several years. The average annual fee across the country is £55 a year.

To take part in the consultation and find out more go to www.shropshire.gov.uk/gardenwastebudget2024.

Easter 2024 changes to Waste Collection Days

Changes start on Easter Monday (1 April 2024) and end on Saturday 6 April 2024. Collections will be one day later than normal – and will return to normal from Monday 8 April 2024.

Collection crews will be working on Good Friday (29 March), with waste and recycling collected as normal that day.

The usual and revised collection days are:

Usual collection day / revised collection day

Friday 29 March (Good Friday) / No change
Monday 1 April (Easter Monday) / Tuesday 2 April
Tuesday 2 April /Wednesday 3 April
Wednesday 3 April / Thursday 4 April
Thursday 4 April / Friday 5 April
Friday 5 April / Saturday 6 April

Householders are asked to put their waste containers out by 7am on their revised collection day.

April 2nd – HFG Walk

Our next “First Tuesday” organised public walk will be the Tern Valley – Hodnet Walk 9.

It’s a “there and back” walk from Peplow to Stoke on Tern and return, via a stretch of pretty countryside you’d never otherwise see. At about 5 miles (total there and back) it’s a fairly flat route with a few stiles.

Starting at The Church of the Epiphany at Peplow* we follow the Tern Valley up to Petsey and on to St Peter’s Church at Stoke on Tern – where we’ll stop for refreshments in the millennium garden.

*There is fairly limited parking by the chapel, so car sharing is advised. With that in mind you could also, if you wish, leave a car at Stoke on Tern beforehand and then just walk one way.

Everyone is welcome, including dogs on leads. You can find the Walk 9 guide on our web page https://hodnet.org.uk/maim/index.php/tourism/local-walk-leaflets/

Any queries please contact Steve Alden 07774 969 339. We hope to see you there. 

March 5th Walk – HFG

This month we invite you to join us for something a little different – a walk around Lee Brockhurst.

This is a repeat of an outing planned for last November, but which had to be cancelled because of the weather!

We’ve learned from the problems that flowed from that (late) cancellation; so this time we will all meet at the Lyon Hall car park at 09:30, then travel/car share to Lee Brockhurst together for a 10:00 start there.

The walk itself will take around 2 hrs, and is over varied terrain including an (unavoidable) short walk along the verge of the busy A49.

As ever, all are welcome inc. dogs [on leads] and children, with suitable footwear/clothing advised.

Further info, if required, from Rob Kinsey [07880 317934]

Feb 6th 2024 Walk – HFG

This month we resume our ‘First Tuesday’ walks, with a wander around Fauls – essentially following the route of our Walk 7 leaflet the ‘Fauls Circular’ walk.

We’ll meet outside the Holy Emmanuel church in Fauls [free parking] and aim to set off at 10.00.

The walk takes around 2 hrs, and is over varied terrain with some stiles.

As ever, all are welcome inc. dogs [on leads] and children, with suitable footwear/clothing advised.

Further info, if required, from Jake Williams [07474 – 974477]

Shropshire Council’s Budget Consultation is now open

Like many councils across the country, Shropshire Council faces a very tough financial position and is seeking residents’ help in shaping some difficult decisions that lie ahead.  

“At just over halfway through this financial year, we have achieved 80% of our spending reductions target of £51.4m. Our plan is to build on these strong foundations to overcome the challenges that still lie ahead into the next financial year and beyond. 

Our biggest pressure is that the funding we have to deliver our services hasn’t kept pace with the demand that we are seeing, especially in adults’ social care and children’s social care, which makes up nearly 80% of the council budget. 

Essentially, we are having to do much more with less so we can carry on supporting the most vulnerable people in our communities. To keep doing this, we will have to make some difficult decisions.  We will need to change the way we deliver some services, whilst some others may need to stop altogether. We want to understand your priorities, as residents, businesses, staff or stakeholders, so that any future decisions are made with these in mind.  Our budget consultation starts today, and this is an opportunity for you to share your thoughts on how we can achieve the £50m spending reductions that we must make before 2025, which includes the 4.99% council tax increase that the Government allocation assumes we will make.”

Go to online budget consultation The themes include increasing efficiency, increasing income, reducing third-party spending and making sure that we are the right size as an organisation. The survey should take less than fifteen minutes and will run until 28 January 2024. Every voice matters. Feedback from this will then inform the final budget proposals which will come back to the council in February.   

Please try and take the time to express your opinions.