Cork City Abolishes Bin Waiver
cork |
bin tax / household tax / water tax |
news report 
Thursday December 16, 2004 16:41
by james - wsm cork
Cork city council effectively abolished the waiver system on Monday night. They also decided to charge people who produce no waste 255 euro per year.
Fianna Fail Councillor Damien Wallace spoke with a great deal of self importance when he lauded the 2005 estimate presented to Cork city council. He thought it great that from now on householders would pay a flat rate of 255 euro per year and a per bin charge of 5 or 3 euro depending on size. He boasted that as a result those who never put their bin out would have to pay just 255 euro a year for fuck all!!!! Wonderful he said and recommended adoption of the estimates. BAA BAA said the rest of his party.
The city council also decided that only OAPs living alone would have free collection. Everyone else including carers, unemployed, people on disability, low wages etc. will have to pay the collection fee. So bye bye waiver.
For the green minded amongst us producing no waste by effectively recycling, composting, avoiding plastic wrapping etc. will be rewarded by the city council with a 255 euro "poll tax" type payment.
Cork citys councillors are so thick that they didn't realise the sting in the tale and vote it through. Now the local press is full of them moaning and rebelling over being duped by the city manager. I sat in on 30 minutes at the start of the meeting and had grasped the waivers demise simply by listening, it shows how much attention these idiots apply at their own meetings.
A protest before the meeting by Householders Against Service Charges, Socialist Party, Sinn Fein (Sligo Bin Charges good, Cork bin charges bad) Greens (Dublin bin charges good, Cork bin charges bad) Workers Solidarity Movement (alright just two of us) and some unaffiliated people, drew about 40-50 people and was derided in the local media(Evening Echo)
Comments (6 of 6)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6How did Mick Barry (Socialist Party councillor) perform during all of this? Is he making as much noise in there as he does outside, or is he settling into the role and getting comfortable?
He was on the picket line and fought the good fight inside, which must be kinda soul destrying seeing as defeat was inevitable.
I believe Mr. Lord Mayor of Sligo , Sean McManus (Provo SF) obtained that position by supporting the introduction of this double tax , and I know Provo SF Councillor (Tallaght , Dublin) , Mark Daly , not only paid it but described it as "fair" and advised others to pay it , too ! (In the local 'Tallaght Echo' newspaper) . I have'nt paid one cent , nor will I , despite the two 'red ink' letters I have received from South Dublin County Council seeking 'payment' ; I told them that I do not mind paying ONCE for any service , but refuse to pay twice - ie in 1976 , rates were abolished and VAT increased by two-and-a-half per cent to make up the cash difference to their coffers . If the 'powers-that-be' reduce the VAT level , then they might have a reason in looking for this payment . But , until then -
" Not a cent , not an ounce ... " (Ooops.. !)
Slan ,
Sharon .
Why not tell us why Mick Murphy of the SP went AWOL at the SDCC vote? Surely thats more topical than you raising old stories about SF? Sharon I am a bit suspicious of you. Why would a real independent go out of her way to post anti SF comments regarding Bin Charges on multiple and ignore the recent "sins" of the SP? Could you be trying to divert attention from Murphy of the SP?
Hello ' Cynic' !
Sharon here -
Sorry if I gave the impression that I was anti-PSF and pro-SP , because , actually , I am ' anti ' the lot of them ! PSF , SP , FF , Labour etc ; I have no time for , or faith in , any of them . I was at an anti-double bin tax meeting in Clondalkin ( in the old Palmers / Lough and Quay pub) and Mick Murphy shared the top table with two Labour Councillors ( Robert Dowds and Joanna Tuffy - this was before the recent local elections) and , after about half an hour of listening to those at the top table roundly condemn the tax as "unfair , unjustifiable ... " etc someone in the audience asked the 2 Labour people had they themselves paid the double bin tax . After about five minutes of ' humming and hawing ' out of them , they both admitted that they had , in fact , paid it !
I was , and still am , disappointed , not only with those two , but with Mick Murphy and the SP for actually inviting them to speak from the platform without checking ( or caring ?) if they had paid .
Hope that clears-up your "suspicion " , ' Cynic ' !!
Sharon .
http://www.pkelly.net/newsletters04/290704.htm
If you would prefer to dispose of the refuse yourself you will need to get a form from Cork city. This is called a declaration of non-use. You will need to complete the form and get it signed by a peace commissioner. You will need to show where you intend to dispose of your refuse and you will also need to pay any arrears on the account up until the day that the form is submitted.
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