Paper bank fears after arson attacks

RESIDENTS in Leiston and Saxmundham are being warned they could lose their paper bank recycling facilities following a spate of arson attacks.

The paper bank in Leiston High Street has been set ablaze twice in three weekends, and last weekend , the one at Saxmundham Market Place was attacked.

The Saxmundham bank, one of the most used in the district, suffered a spate of arson attacks last autumn and the company operating the scheme considered permanently withdrawing.

Last year, 104 tonnes of paper was collected, earning the town council nearly £400 from recycling credits to use for the benefit of the community.

"These incidents are threatening the future of the paper banks at these sites in Leiston and Saxmundham, which would deny these communities an important facility and the loss of income for local causes. If anyone knows anything about these arson attacks, I would urge them to pass the information on to the police," said Councillor Chris Slemmings, cabinet member for the environment.

Suffolk Coastal makes payments to parish councils and other community groups from the recycling credits gained from recycling activities. These payments are given specifically for community benefit.

"Vandalism at our recycling sites is thankfully fairly rare, but it does occur occasionally across the district. I would ask people not to turn a blind eye and let the police or Suffolk Coastal know so we can stop this becoming a real problem," said Cllr Slemmings.

The potential loss of the Market Place paper bank would be a blow to the district's recycling efforts as well as the people of Saxmundham as it is the fourth most heavily used paper bank in Suffolk Coastal.

There are other recycling banks at Saxmundham Market Place available for cans, bottles, jars and textiles.

Residents in Leiston have alternative paper banks at the household waste site and the Sizewell Sports and Social Club.