VALE Royal's lead councillor for recycling has rejected the findings of a Northwich and Winsford Guardian online poll that asks residents whether they think the new waste scheme is a success.
Borough councillor Malcolm Gaskill says that there are petitions, polls and email campaigns across the borough that aim to 'knock the scheme and force the council to make policy change'.
Our Internet poll went online a fortnight ago and, as the Guardian went to press, the statistics stood at 68 per cent 'no' and 32 per cent 'yes' to the question: "Do you think the Vale Royal kerbside recycling scheme has been successful?"
But Clr Gaskill said: "None of these petitions, polls and email campaigns have been conducted scientifically or audited independently, which means their results cannot be verified as accurate.
"The council can therefore make no comment on them.
"Our kerbside recycling scheme is modelled on many successful schemes across the UK, including the one employed in the Scunthorpe constituency of Environment Minister Elliot Morley.
"It is also worth noting that it is Labour Government policies that are driving forward these recycling schemes and Labour Government funding paying for these schemes."
Clr Gaskill added that the recycling rate in the borough has increased from 10 per cent to 30 per cent since its inception two months ago.
Meanwhile, despite Clr Gaskill's comments, residents are continuing to leave their comments on the Guardian websites by logging on to www.thisisnorthwich.co.uk or www.thisiswinsford.co.uk for more.
rfraser@guardiangrp.co.uk
