A SHATTERING blow has been dealt to recycling in the borough after a well-used glass collection point was taken away.

Last year, the recycling bin in the Barley Mow car park, Oakley, was removed at the request of the pub's owners, the Spirit Group.

Oakley still has recycling drop points at The Fox pub and Beach Park, but these are both on the outskirts of the village and are not suitable for people with limited mobility.

Councillor Ros Blackman, chairman of Oakley and Deane Parish Council, is leading a campaign to get the bin reinstated.

She said: "We have a good recycling record in the village and I think it's a particularly poor show that the bin at the Barley Mow - which is right in the centre of the village - had to go.

"It didn't cause any problems for the surrounding residents. The elderly could bring down one or two bottles with them when they went out to collect their pensions or to go to the shops.

"The ones at The Fox and Beach Park are all very well and good, but if you haven't got a car then you have to carry your bottles up there and you can only do that if you're fit and strong."

The parish council has written to the Spirit Group asking for the bin to be returned, but says these pleas have been completely ignored so far.

Cllr Blackman said: "We have tried to contact them but without any joy - they haven't replied to any of our letters at all."

Sarah Perrins, Spirit Group's head of communications, said: "We asked for the glass recycling bin to be relocated because it represented a potential health and safety risk.

"It was located right next to the children's play area and the manager was concerned that broken glass and empty bottles could cause injury to customers."

The Gazette wants to hear from individuals and organisations that are passionate about recycling.

Are you setting an example for others to follow?

Contact Alex Kalinik on 01256 337421 or e-mail newsdesk@basingstokegazette.co.uk - and if you have a view on recycling issues, we want to hear those too.

You can write to The Letters Editor, Gazette Newspapers, Gazette House, Pelton Road, Basingstoke, RG21 6YD or e-mail editor@basingstokegazette.co.uk

First published: Friday, March 11, 2005