The Chipping Barnet MP said Barnet Council’s increase in green bin charges was “bad news” for her constituents

A green bin (for garden waste) pictured in front of a garden — A green bin – (Credit – Office of Theresa Villiers MP)

Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers has slammed Barnet Council after it increased charges for collecting garden waste.

The council announced plans in February to increase the annual bill for green bin collection from £70 to £97.

Edgware councillor Lucy Wakeley criticised the consultation on the plans in a comment piece for Barnet Post last month and Villiers has now raised her concerns.

She said “This is bad news for my constituents. A 40% increase in green bin charges is the last thing people need when they are still grappling with cost of living pressures. In a council vote in 2022, Labour promised to freeze the cost people have to pay for garden waste collections until 2026. They should deliver on that commitment and scrap the increase they have introduced.

“This just shows once again Labour always cost you more, whether it is the council with their bin charges, or the Mayor of London imposing Ulez expansion and revealing plans for pay-per-mile driving.”

“Despite higher council tax and higher parking and bin charges, hundreds of potholes remain unfilled. Labour are giving us higher taxes and poorer services.”

Explaining the plans when it launched the consultation, the council said: “Barnet has not raised its garden waste charge since its introduction in 2020.

“Increasing the charge for garden waste collections is one of our proposals that will help us balance our budget and ensure we can sustain our current environmental service offer.”

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