Councillors keen to exterminate Dalek bins
RECYCLING bins set to spring up in Selkirk town centre were slammed as Dalek lookalikes this week.
The town’s community councillors, meeting on Monday, were dismayed by the look and size of the proposed giant plastic bins with blue lids.
And one compared them to the famous baddy in television programme, Doctor Who.
Selkirk community council planning spokesman Ian King said: “They are nearly 5ft high, 3ft wide and 3ft deep.
“They are going to be obstructing wheelchairs, prams and those who are short-sighted will walk into them.
“They will be an eyesore and if we are protecting the local environment this will not be a good way of going about it.”
Fellow community councillor Jim Gibson said: “We are trying to address the aesthetic value of the town and are then given these bins.
“The name Dalek comes to mind when I saw it. How can anyone design that? There are loads of designs on the internet which are much better than that.”
The town’s community council has told Scottish Borders Council (SBC) the units are aesthetically unattractive, and asked the local authority that no footpaths should be obstructed.
Secretary Alistair Pattullo said: “It is a good idea, but I can’t see this in the High Street. There is not enough room.”
Community councillor Tommy Combe does not believe Selkirk needs the recycling bins.
He said: “People who throw litter in the street will continue to do that. I think they are pretty pointless.”
And Selkirk resident David Firth asked: “Are the council playing Big Brother by saying ‘You will like it [recycling] or lump it?’”
“We don’t need this in the town centre – we have enough bins.”
But SBC representative Gordon Edgar said the authority has to find a way of increasing its recycling.
It currently stands at 40 per cent of all rubbish, but SBC officials want to increase that to 50 per cent during 2013/14 to meet Scottish Government targets.
Councillor Edgar said: “This is a directive from the Scottish Government. It is a way of cutting down on landfill.
“We have targets to hit for recycling and if we don’t, we are fined.”
SBC currently proposes placing five bins in the town – at the high school, the foot of Back Row (outside Mungo Park Court), High Street, Market Place and at the foot of Kirk Wynd.
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Saturday 18 May 2013
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