Southwell Town Council question composter proposal and plan to revisit idea

The practicality of plans for a central composter have been questioned by councillors.

At the meeting on Wednesday, September 13, Southwell Town Council’s town environment committee considered a proposal to build a composter on Froggatt’s Field.

The committee heard it would be to the edge of the field to be out of the way, and would be used for green waste produced by the council’s grounds staff.

Peter Harris said: “We agreed four years ago to build a composter in the War Memorial Recreation Ground, using left over harris fencing.

“I don’t understand why it wasn’t done, and now we’re looking at a new location.”

Committee chairman Lynn Harris suggested that it may never have been acted on due to reservations from councillors.

Karen Roberts explained she had had reservations due to complaints from residents that a brash heap on the recreation ground was ‘unsightly’.

Jeremy Berridge questioned what would be put in the composter, as wood chippings produced by the council are normally spread in situ.

He added: “While I well understand that there might be a need for a place like this, what we don’t want is someone bringing a small quantity across town in a three mile-per-hour tractor.

“Its time, its cost, its emissions. Most can be dealt with in situ.”

A suggestion was made for composters at each of the council’s main green spaces to prevent waste being carried around.

It was agreed the proposal should be left for now, for the staff to be consulted on what the centralised composter would be used for.