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Search forSouth Croydon gardener fears waste changes could ruin his business
Saturday, August 23, 2008, 07:00
matt.johnson@essnmedia.co.uk
A PROFESSIONAL gardener says changes to the council's green waste service are threatening his business.
Stephen D'cruze visits the Central Nursery, in Conduit Lane, Croydon, almost every day to dispose of green waste and pick up council-produced compost.
But he and other green-fingered locals have been left stunned at the news the facility is to close on October 1.
Mr D'cruze, owner of D'cruze Gardens, on Normanton Road, South Croydon, will be forced to shell out more to pick up compost and dispose of waste elsewhere.
Mr D'cruze said: "With diesel prices up and the economy in trouble we can't afford to not tip in a local area.
"We pick up croypost (the council-produced compost) for £15 per tonne. Other compost is £30 per tonne.
"This is a very, very serious risk to my business. We actually thought the credit crunch wouldn't affect us but this is the icing on the cake.
"We have got to re-quote jobs we booked for after October because of this closure.
"The future is looking grim for my business."
The council has confirmed its waste transfer station in Factory Lane, which accepts household waste to be taken to landfill, will also close in October.
However, Factory Lane's recycling centre will remain open.
The changes have been made because Croydon Council has signed a new contract with waste management company Viridor.
The contract stipulates all green waste collected locally will be processed at Viridor's facility in Beddington, which the authority says will provide greater value for money.
But Mr D'cruze fears he and other gardeners will be left out of pocket.
He said: "For local gardening services which dispose of their green waste at a fair cost this is a disaster with petrol prices and the economy such a mess at the moment.
"Other gardeners I've spoken to are fuming."
A spokeswoman for Croydon Council explained why the Conduit Lane site was closing.
She said: "Croydon Council has over the past two years been undertaking a number of waste contract procurements in order to manage the future waste needs for Croydon.
"As part of this work Croydon has now procured a long-term sustainable outlet for green waste collected by the authority for the next 14 years at a competitive price that offers value for money.
"As a result of the contract the council will be closing its small green waste operation at Conduit Lane.
"The council will as part of the closure provide advance notification to all users of the site, and provide information as to possible alternative sites.
"The existing staff that work at the council's small composting site will continue to work with Croydon Council, and so there are no planned job losses from this change in service."
Phil Thomas, council cabinet member for environment and highways, added that he is looking to find another site nearer to Conduit Lane than Beddington for those like Mr D'cruze to dispose of their waste.
He said: "All the green waste that we pick up goes to Conduit Lane. It will now go to (the Beddington site in) Beddington Lane.
"When Conduit Lane closes we will still accept waste from garden waste companies.
"We will have facilities for them so we can find somewhere else to take it."
WORRIED FOR HIS FUTURE: Stephen D'cruze at the green waste recycling site on Conduit Lane
Photos by Fergus Burnett
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