Sadly, after consultation with both Hilland and Monk Fryston Parish Councils, the Community Association Trustees decided at their recent meeting to reluctantly withdraw the Paper and Cardboard ‘drop off’ service at the Community Centre. This ended a service which started as a fund raiser for the charity by collecting and selling newspapers, rather than simply using them as part of the fire lighting process or as fly swats or simply thrown away.
Over the years the situation has changed dramatically. Newspapers are no longer bought by many people but the use of cardboard has grown dramatically particularly since the start and explosion of internet shopping. In turn, this led to our District Council providing every household with a paper and board wheelie bin.
Prior to the introduction of our brown bins, the Community Association increased the size and number of bins to receive cardboard but it seems there was never enough capacity. Over time it became necessary to attach notices to each bin asking Users to flatten cardboard boxes, not put any other rubbish into the bins and if they were full to please take the cardboard home again. These requests went unheeded and it was left to CA volunteers to sort out other people’s rubbish which was totally unfair – the Community Centre is not a municipal facility.
Despite the article in the last issue of the Hillam News – non flattened boxes have still be left and cardboard has been left when the bins are full and overflowing even as shown in the picture broken toys have been left for collection – but by whom?
So, after over 30 years a small income stream for the Community Centre will sadly come to an end. The gap will have to be made up from somewhere by the volunteers who run our charity and provide the facilities including the playground.
The Community Association would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported the fund raising and correctly used the initiative over the years and the volunteers, particularly Old Vicarage Lane resident Colin Campbell, who have kept the area tidy over the years.
The Trustees make one last plea to everyone, ‘Please do not leave any items at the remaining Community Centre clothing and carton drop off bins which are not for those bins and if they are full, please take your items back home.’
