Burntwood Tip (yes I know it’s correct title is now ‘Burntwood Recycling Centre’ or something similar but it has always been and will always be referred to as ‘the tip’) still has an uncertain future thanks to County Councillor  Robert Marshall who in his own wisdom originally decided that it should close.  However, he decided without any consultation with his own committee or the district or town councils of Lichfield and Burntwood.

When challenged by local councillors and a petition of over 12,000 names, his quoted reason for not carrying out the slightest of consultation was:

There was no point because I know what residents and local councillors would say.

Well I’m glad democracy is alive and well Mr Marshall.  Last time I checked, almost every criminal when asked to plead says ‘not guilty’ but we don’t throw out the Jury and sent them straight to prison without trial!  Likewise, Burntwood Tip does at least deserve its right to death-by-committee!

Having been completely rumbled in his derogatory attitude to Burntwood and it’s residents, there was a two week reprieve while a committee debate was scheduled.  In response to the campaign to save our local facility, Councillor Robert Marshall claimed that the decision to review the closure had nothing to do with the petition or the “politically-motivated” campaign to keep our Burntwood facility open.  I am not party political in any way but a campaign by local resident and local councillors to save a vital local service to the community has my support regardless of politics.  The councillors involved may be Labour councillors but they were acting on behalf of 12,000 signed-up residents for a campaign which is more to do with a County Council, and one of its councillors in particular, trying to stamp it’s authority over the District and Town Councils and the residents of Burntwood than it is a row between Conservative and Labour politics.

Robert Marshall’s latest twist is that all recycling centres in the county will will be reviewed, to include the possibility of charging per use.  All this has done is to ignite a row about charging for a service already paid for through council tax.  Of course it also means that every other district in Staffordshire will have the choice of backing charging for their own facilities or campaigning for Burntwood to close because, according to Robert Marshall the choices are that Burntwood Tip closes or everyone in the county pays for it.  Sneaky move Mr Marshall but I think you’ll find you still have a fight on your hands.