“Short-sighted” plans to totally scrap green waste collection in Merton will be altered after criticism from older people and charities.

The move to save £227,000 a year has been criticised by Age Concern Merton and Mertonvision, as well as residents and opposition councillors.

Now, after admitting the decision to withdraw the free service on April 1 had attracted more complaints than any other budget cut this year, Merton Council is to promise a replacement service for vulnerable residents.

Older people said the less active and those without cars would suffer from the decision as they could not take garden waste to the borough’s only refuse centre in Gap Road, Morden.

They said the move would encourage fly-tipping, clog up regular waste collections and discourage recycling.

A letter signed by Age Concern Merton chief executive Lynne Bainbridge and Mertonvision chief officer Fran Hibbert said: “We have already been contacted by blind and older people worried about how they should dispose of their garden waste…

"While it is understandable the council is trying to cut costs, this service appears to have been cut without much thought for the consequences.”

Council leader Councillor Stephen Alambritis said: “Of all the cuts this is the one that has raised most concerns.

"We’ve all had to make sacrifices… it’s a big saving.”

But, he said, the council was considering an alternative green waste scheme that would protect the service for vulnerable people, although there could be a charge.

Coun Alambritis added details of the service were still being worked out and would not be announced for a couple of months.

He said he could not comment on changes for other residents.

He said the initial decision was taken because the council had been forced into “torrid” cuts by the loss of central Government funding – something opposition councillors deny.

Grace McCormack, 84, said the move had unfairly targeted older people, and argued even if the council was cutting spending it should protect this service.

The West Barnes resident said: “People around here have no cars, so what do we do?

“It’s very short sighted – we’re supposed to be a green borough, aren’t we?”

Roy Stanley, 84, of Sandbourne Avenue in Merton Park, said even a reduced service would be better than nothing.

He said: “It’s useful material that can be recycled.”

Councillor Henry Nelless, the Conservative group’s deputy leader, said: “Many residents, especially the elderly and disabled, will be disadvantaged by this decision, which will cost council taxpayers more in increased landfill as those who cannot get to Garth Road divert their grass cuttings into their regular household waste.

“Merton’s Conservative councillors have shown Labour didn’t need to make this decision and alternative sources of funding were available.”

What do you think? Leave a comment below, call 020 8722 6336 or email: cburnett@london.newsquest.co.uk.

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