I AM sure we are all aware of the financial problems faced by Oxfordshire County Council to balance the books, while restricted by the Government on any increase in the rates it levies.

The current plan to close most of the recycling centres in Oxfordshire is clearly seen by the council as a way of reducing the hole in the budget.

For those who responded to the on-line ‘consultation’, it was very obvious from the questions asked that minds were already made up.

The picture of a smug-looking deputy county council leader Rodney Rose, above, quoted as saying: “I struggle to see why law-abiding citizens would suddenly become fly-tippers just because they have to travel five minutes to one of the other recycling sites” only goes to show that he has clearly looked no further than a quick way of cutting an item of expenditure without thought as to the outcome.

I suggest Cllr Rose is a poor judge of human nature if he thinks the inconvenience of travelling halfway across the county will not encourage a significant increase in fly tipping.

As to where he gets his figure of five minutes from suggests he doesn’t drive a car or walk out of his front door very often. I know that in the case of the Stanford in the Vale recycling centre, many users would be more than happy to pay to ensure it remains open. But this option is not even being considered as the council says this is “not allowed” .

Why not? The brown bin scheme operated by the district council involves an annual charge, so why not some form of payment for local recycling centres?

GEOFF RUMBLE
Lower Common, Uffington
Gardiner Street, Oxford