A CENTRAL composting facility in West Linton was this week mooted as an aid to householders when the green bins service is scrapped.

Resident Richard Jones made the suggestion as he added his name to the long list of opponents to Scottish Borders Council’s decision to end garden waste collections.

“I know that it’s now too late for the council to change its decision. There was no consultation and the whole thing was not well handled,” he told a meeting of West Linton Community Council.

“They don’t seem to have given much thought to the consequences of this, I guess there’s going to be a lot of fly-tipping. I was just wondering whether the community council could think about providing a central composting facility in the village. I am sure this would be better than waiting for five years for grass cuttings to turn to compost.

“As it stands people are going to have to drive their cars to the tip and that will put pollution in the air.” Councillor Keith Cockburn told the meeting there were no plans for a central composting facility but there was a possibility of SBC setting up a reciprocal arrangement with Lothian to use one of its tips. This would save West Linton residents having to drive to Eshiels.

“I know a lot of people are angry over this but the decision has been made now and you can’t see it being overturned,” added Councillor Cockburn.

“In Hawick we’ve seen some private companies showing interest in taking over the garden waste collections but I think we need feedback to see how it can be better done.”