Fire vandals put an end to Pebsham recycling

He said: "It's a thorny problem. Pebsham residents will no longer be able to use Pebsham Community Centre Recycling Point.

"There has been a series of incidents when the recycling bins have been set alight, and as a result of this, the leaseholder has asked for the bins to be removed."

As the bins are not on public-owned land, Rother District Council now has no option but to take the bins away.

Now Cllr Forster is asking where in Pebsham the bins can be placed, if there is no suitable council site, so that residents and local businesses can continue to use them.

"There can be little doubt that burning bits of paper and plastic could cause a nuisance to local residents, as well as a potential hazard because of the fumes from burning plastic."

Cllr Forster thinks local people will now miss out on a facility they have become used to, and asks if an alternative setting will be found at all.

He has been aware of other fires in the area and having discussed the problem with Cllr Charles Clark, said: "It seems as though it has been happening for some weeks now ... there seems to be an on-going problem, certainly.

"But it is very disappointing to keep on seeing recycle bins are being targetted. They are a useful facility particularly for older members of the community who sometimes walk down on a daily basis to put paper and tins in.

"Now we are at a loss to think of a suitable location. It has got to be accessible by car, and ideally be on public land.

"We are tied down to a fairly limited location ... otherwise it is going to be down to people in their cars to go to Pebsham tip and dispose of things down there, but if they do not have a car then they can't get there."

"It seems a pity that after several years of having the facility there and people use it, and get used to it being there, that it is now being taken away. It is a problem for the community really because of one or two young people who are spoiling it for us."