There were four annual parish meetings last night Barham, Whitton, Claydon and Henley and one parish council, Bramford .  I got to all the annual meetings but rushing round restricts residents opportunity to get direct answers on issues that worry them. 

Everyone  found it difficult to understand why the County was cutting useful and vital but relatively low cost services like Lollipop Ladies and the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC).  Today it looks as though the new County Leader may take notice of what Lib Dems, Labour and Greens have been saying since last November and change tack.  Perhaps the back bench Tories who said to us they disliked policies but then voted for them will now stand up for their voters.

At Claydon the portfolio holder for waste, Lisa Chambers and a county waste officer gave a brief outline of the situation on Bramford HWRC and asked for questions.  Unfortunately there were few people present which tended to reinforce the County view that few people in this area are concerned about the proposed closure.  I combat that view but meetings without protesters are not helpful.

Lisa gave us the detailed cost data that I had asked for to assist the group trying to put together a plan for a community replacement.  I will put that data on this site later today.

I questioned again the reluctance of the County to pay the landfill tax and other disposal costs on household waste collected by a community based group.  Lisa stated that they were still looking at the possibility.  We need that commitment to make the community plan work otherwise Bramford could be paying for everyone’s waste disposal.