New 'burden' for town's traders

Regeneration work is being carried out in Bargoed town centre

Traders say plans to scrap a county's free cardboard collection service is another blow during a difficult time.

From April, businesses in Caerphilly county must buy a permit and take cardboard waste to amenity sites.

Some traders in Bargoed said such a change should not be introduced during a recession and while regeneration work was disrupting the town centre.

Caerphilly County Borough Council said the charges were in line with other local authorities across the country.

The biggest part of any shop's waste has to be cardboard Peter Collins, trader

Peter Collins, owner of B Thomas Pet and Garden Supplies, said: "It's a tough time for everyone. It isn't easy for anyone at the moment.

"If they were to say we can't collect it any more but you can dump it at our facilities [for nothing], that wouldn't be so bad.

"The biggest part of any shop's waste has to be cardboard."

Mr Collins said businesses already faced disruption from the ongoing regeneration work on the town centre, and the council had recognised this by offering a reduction in rates.

"I'm a little bit shocked because they've been good enough to say 'here's your rate reduction'. They say 'you can have that, but we want this back'," he said.

Permits will cost £5 for up to 10 boxes, which can be filled with flat-packed cardboard, and £8 for 11-25 boxes.

The cardboard can be disposed of at Aberbargoed, Penallta, and Full Moon, Crosskeys civic amenity sites.

Mr Collins said it was not a huge cost but added that some traders may not have room to store the cardboard or have a van to transport it.

'Cleaner and greener'

Bargoed Chamber of Trade spokesperson Ivan Hill said businesses supported the council's efforts to regenerate the town but this was an "inopportune time" to introduce a "further burden".

"I think what we want to do is call on them to either postpone it or look at an alternative, cost-effective means of letting traders dispose of their cardboard," he said.

A spokesperson for Caerphilly council said: "The council is introducing the charges in line with other local authorities across the country.

"We are keen to work with both residents and local businesses to increase recycling rates to help make the Caerphilly county borough cleaner and greener."

Regeneration plans for Bargoed include a new bus station in the town centre and improvements to Hanbury Square.

Work is also taking place on a new multi-million pound retail scheme, although a new supermarket is being sought for the project after Sainsbury pulled out in January.