VILLAGERS in Banwell are not recycling as much of their waste as they would like because North Somerset Council says it costs too much to

VILLAGERS in Banwell are not recycling as much of their waste as they would like because North Somerset Council says it costs too much to provide a plastic bank.

The unitary authority has already provided five plastic and Tetrapak recycling banks across the district at Winscombe, Nailsea, Portishead, Weston and Yatton.

Residents were told before Christmas by North Somerset councillor Tim Marter they would be getting a plastic and Tetrapak recycling bank so they could dispose food and drink cartons responsibly at the same time.

However, at a meeting on Monday Cllr Marter read aloud an email sent to him from a council officer that said: "In the current situation we do not have any extra budget to service another bank.

"I know it is not the answer you hoped for, but it is not that we don't want to offer the service to residents, we just have to make the most of the limited resources we have."

Cllr Marter said he would ask the executive member for environment, Carl Francis-Pester, if he could intervene on behalf of parishioners.

Plastic and Tetrapak recycling banks have been put in place at the following sites:

* Tesco car park off Alexandra Parade, Weston.

* Somerfield car park, in High Street, Yatton.

* Clevedon Road car park, Nailsea.

* Waitrose in Harbour Road, Portishead.

* Behind the Woodborough Inn, in Sandford Road, Winscombe.

The Conservative administration has been making cuts to services as a means of keeping its promise to set a below inflation council tax increase.

Last week council leader Cllr Nigel Ashton announced a draft figure of 1.9 per cent which will be finalised next month.