Angry business owners in Burnham-On-Sea claim they are having to pay ‘extortionate’ prices to have their rubbish taken away.
New rates introduced have seen the cost of official trade refuse sacks soar in recent weeks, much to the concern of small businesses in the town.
Stuart Donovan from High Street hairdresser ‘Hair Of The Dog’ has gained the support of local councillor Joe Leach in trying to get the price hikes overturned.
“The sacks used to be sold at £1 a time but are now £2.50 each, and because you have to buy a minimum of 40, that’s £100 a time,” Stuart told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
“Traders’ rubbish is only collected if it’s bagged up in these official refuse sacks, so we’re being forced to pay the new prices,” he added.
“For small shops and those struggling during the current difficult financial climate, this is an extorionate amount.”
Burnham-On-Sea councillor Joe Leach, who is pictured with Mr Donovan holding one of the refuse sacks, agrees.
“I believe this is appalling exploitation of shop owners,” he said this week. “They are paying hundreds of pounds a year for something that does the same job as a regular bin bag, and yet if the shopkeepers put out regular bags they are not taken. This could encourage fly-tipping.”
“In pressing times like these, paying £2.50 for a bin bag is ridiculous. Let’s have some common sense and help these businesses, not hinder them.”
Pictured are Stuart Donovan from hairdresser Hair Of The Dog with Burnham district councillor Joe Leach
