Volunteers have said they will no longer care for the Ladyhill gardens if the council charges them for the removal of waste
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VOLUNTEERS who take care of the Ladyhill gardens have said they will have to stop if Moray Council charge them £144 for the use of brown bins.
The council have told the Ladyhill Flowerbed Group that they will make no concessions when it comes to the £36 charge for the garden waste permit.
The group of five volunteers, who are all over the age of 70 and retired, receive no help from Moray Council and pay for weed killer, tools and four water butts out of their own pockets.
Ladyhill and the gardens surrounding it, which is owned by the council, is a busy tourist area, as well as being popular with Elgin residents who enjoy a walk up to see the Duke Of Gordon monument.
Leading the fight is Anne Glover, who said that it is terrible that this is happening and is angry that the authority is asking for money.
The 76-year-old added: "We are all having to do it for ourselves but we did not see this coming. This is disgusting and the gardens are packed with holiday-makers and people who have their lunch."
The group started up over 10 years ago after the council threatened to put grass over the flowerbeds, but it was Anne, a retired district nurse who was on the community council at the time, who stepped up to stop it.
The flowers for the four large flowerbeds and four large tubs are donated by Cove Bay Nurseries in Aberdeen.
The group plant the flowers, put weed killer on the path, collect the grass after council workers have cut it, and cut other areas and trim plants. In the past, they have also paid for paint for the railings.
The team now feel like their efforts are being taking advantage of by the council and feel like they cannot go on as they have no funding to pay for the bin charges.
Anne added: "We come out in all different kinds of weather, when its cold and its wet, with no facilities. This is not funny any more.
"We do enjoy doing it and it will be sad to go. It is such a disgrace, it is £36 for each bin and we have four of them so it will be £144. We just couldn't do it."
The group hope the council will make the concession for bins, or even for some of them, otherwise the group will no longer be able tend to the garden.
A spokesperson for Moray Council said: “Whilst we value the hard work of community groups in maintaining green space across Moray, unfortunately our current financial position means that we cannot offer any exemptions or discounts for the garden waste permit scheme to householders, community groups or charitable organisations.”
