Kenilworth residents have hit back against proposed charges for green bin collections from August.

A new £44 annual fee for garden waste collections will be discussed by councillors tonight as Warwick District Council presses forward with its merger with neighbours Stratford.

The new charge, which is set to raise the council over £1m every year, has been criticised by residents who say the merger is not benefiting Warwick district households.

And a number of residents have already said they wont be signing up for the opt-in scheme.

"I am not sure where they expect to get the £1m revenue from," on Facebook user said. "Those people who use the green bin for food waste will just put it in the black bin and save the £44."

Another added: "We won't be partaking either, there is plenty of room in our grey bin for the little bit of garden waste we generate."

WDC has already announced a new three-weekly bin collection plan from August, joint with Stratford-on-Avon District Council.

Green bin charges were originally planned for last year but were postponed due to the pandemic.

The district is the only area of Warwickshire left with free garden and food waste collections.

But residents have said the new charge is an early warning sign of what the new South Warwickshire Council could mean for households.

"Once again another benefit of merging with Stratford – or is that part of the 'take-over' by Stratford," an irate Facebook user said.

"Seems to be absolutely no benefit for us in the WDC area.

"Perhaps we will see a reduction in car park charges – but don't hold your breath."

Whilst another added: "Is this the way the councils want us to be part of being green and recycling?

"Sorry, I will opt out. We already pay a small fortune to the council in council tax, they have already reduced bin collections to every other week.

"All prices are going up and they want more out of a stone that unfortunately has bled dry."

(Image by Basher Eyre via geograph.org.uk)

More Kenilworth news stories:

- 13,000 speeding offences went unpunished in Warwickshire last year

- Former Kenilworth B&B up for sale as owners head to the slopes to support son's skiing career