Environment

Pilgrims Ashford Christmas tree collections

15 November 2016 0 Comments

Raffles the bear is looking forward to helping with Pilgrims Ashford Christmas Tree Collections again this year!

Raffles the bear is looking forward to helping with Pilgrims Ashford Christmas Tree Collections again this year!

Ashford Borough Council residents can recycle their real trees again this year with Pilgrims Hospices ‘Tree Recycling’ Christmas tree collections.

Just register your details and, in return for a chosen donation to the hospice, we will visit your home in the new year to pick up your tree.

Give to charity; get rid of your Christmas tree

Every £20 raised by the hospice scheme could cover the cost of 1 hour’s care from a Pilgrims nurse – on the ward, in patients’ own homes or in the community.

Christmas tree collections: dates

Doorstep collections take place across the Ashford Borough on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January 2017.

Contact Pilgrims Hospice Ashford for more information on 01233 504111 or click here to register online. (more…)

Charity, Environment, News

Recycle smarter!

8 November 2016 0 Comments

Biffa staff will continue to check what is being placed in recycling bins to try and ensure that the loads collected are clean and can be recycled. If Biffa find an unrecyclable item in your recycling bin, the crew will not collect it for that week. Your recycling bin will be collected upon your next recycling collection, provided the correct items are present.

Read the tops tips and useful information below to make sure you’re recycling smart.Do not line your recycling container with bags

  • Do not put carrier bags/plastic sacks of items into your green recycling bin. Carrier bags and plastic sacks themselves cannot be recycled as part of this service.
  • Sanitary waste items such as nappies are not recyclable. Please place them in your grey refuse bin.
  • Food waste packaging should be emptied of its contents and rinsed before placing in your green recycling bin.
  • Garden waste should be placed in your brown recycling bin – not the green recycling bin.
  • Do not put dark plastic food trays (from microwave meals for example), or crisp packets in your green recycling bin. Please place them in your grey refuse bin.

Ashford Borough Council, Environment, News

Public Spaces Protection Order consultation

7 November 2016 0 Comments

ABC Crest

Ashford Borough Council

Opens: 7 November 2016
Closes: 28th November 2016

Introduction

Ashford Borough Council has launched a consultation on the introduction of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) for four areas within the borough. The consultation began at 9am on Monday 7th November 2016 and runs until midnight on Monday 28th November 2016.

PSPOs allow councils to tackle ant-isocial behaviour which takes place in a specific, geographical area (as opposed to criminal behaviour orders and injunctions which are directed at individuals). A PSPO is tailored for defined activities, meaning that anyone carrying them out in an area under one of these orders can be prosecuted.

The areas within the consultation have been identified by the council, police reports and complaints received from local residents for nuisance issues. Examples of these include anti-social behaviour, drinking and urinating in public.

The four proposed areas are; the churchyard in the Ashford town centre, the Coney Bear site in South Ashford, the town centre and Singleton Lake. (more…)

Ashford Borough Council, Consultation, Crime, Environment, News

Big Energy Saving Week: save

3 November 2016 0 Comments

Check, switch, saveThe best way to pay less for your fuel is simply to save energy around your home.

This doesn’t mean doing without – you can waste less by being energy efficient. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that the average home in the UK could save up to £130 per year – and avoid emitting 500kg of carbon dioxide – simply by taking energy saving steps.

Are you worried about how much money you’re spending to heat and light your home? Do you want to spend less? There are some simple steps you can take to save money and energy by changing the way you use appliances or making your home more energy efficient. (more…)

Consumer, Environment, Finance, News, Utilities

ABC improved online reporting system

3 November 2016 0 Comments

ancreportAshford Borough Council has improved its online reporting system, making it easier for residents to report issues such as flytipping, littering, dog fouling, vandalism, anti-social behaviour or planning enforcement issues.

The new system replaces some of its online forms and allows residents to report incidents and then track their progress via a unique reference number.

This is part of the council’s tough but fair approach to enforcement and compliance.
For more information, visit the ABC enforcement section. (more…)

Ashford Borough Council, Environment, Housing, News, Planning and Development

Big Energy Saving Week: switch

2 November 2016 0 Comments

Check, switch, saveMany people stay on the same tariff or with the same energy supplier for years, without realising they could be getting a better deal elsewhere. By switching tariffs or suppliers, or joining an oil club, you could save hundreds on your fuel bill. Take control of your energy costs – why pay more than you have to?

Make sure you can enjoy a comfortable, healthy home without the anxiety of ever-rising costs, If you’ve never switched before, it is well worth having a look around to see what’s on offer. (more…)

Environment, Finance, News

Big Energy Saving Week: check

1 November 2016 0 Comments

Check, switch, saveEnergy bills are a significant concern for households. But you could save hundreds of pounds a year on your fuel bill by simply checking you’re not paying more than you have to for your energy. Follow our three simple steps below and you could reduce your fuel bill without having to cut down on the energy you use.

  • Check you are getting the best deal from your current supplier
  • Check if there is a better way to pay your bills
  • Check you are getting all the benefits and help you are entitled to

(more…)

Environment, Flood, News, Utilities

Check, switch, save

31 October 2016 0 Comments

Check, switch, save this Big EnergCheck, switch, savey Saving Week. Don’t be on energy autopilot.

#BESW2016

Big Energy Saving Week starts on 31 October 2016. It is a national campaign to help people cut their fuel bills and get all the financial support they are entitled to.

The week focuses on raising public awareness of how to switch energy supplier or tariff to get the best deal and make homes energy efficient. This is the sixth Big Energy Saving Week and is a partnership between Citizens Advice, the Energy Saving Trust and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy with the support of numerous organisations, charities and companies.

People can use the Citizens Advice price comparison tool to compare prices from different energy suppliers.

 

Environment, Finance, News, Utilities

Recycle smart to ensure your bins is collected

28 October 2016 2 Comments

recyclewheelAshford Borough Council’s recycling service is certainly one to be proud of. The service has seen the borough quadruple its recycling performance, become the country’s most improved recycling authority, and been shortlisted for two categories in the 2015 National Recycling Awards.

You may remember the yellow ‘Warning’ stickers Biffa issued last year which indicated any incorrect items placed in the bin, and warned if they were found again the bin would not be collected. Following the crackdown, residents made an excellent effort to improve their recycling habits. However, recently standards have unfortunately slipped and we have seen a significant amount of unrecyclable materials being placed in recycling bins which has resulted in some waste loads being rejected.

Once again we are cracking down on contamination by encouraging residents to recycle smart to ensure their bins are collected. We are working closely with Biffa to ensure that the recycling collected is of the highest quality, but we need our residents to help us achieve this. Biffa staff will now be checking what is being placed in recycling bins to try and ensure that the loads collected are clean and can be recycled.

If Biffa find an unrecyclable item in your recycling bin, unfortunately the crew will not collect it for that week. We advise you to take your waste to the KCC Household Recycling Centre for disposal instead. Your recycling bin will be collected upon your next recycling collection, provided the correct items are present. (more…)

Ashford Borough Council, Environment, News