HOPES that government funding could boost recycling efforts across South Lakeland have been dashed after a £600,000 grant bid failed.

The funding blow could spell further bad news for council taxpayers as tough Government targets mean South Lakeland District Council must find the cash to increase recycling of materials including bottles, cans and paper from 11 per cent to 14 per cent by March 2004.

The news comes as part of this year's round of grants - dished out by Defra from a £118.7 million National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund.

SLDC Director of Commercial Services Mike Smith said the news was particularly hard to swallow as it was the second and final opportunity for the region to scoop a share of the funding.

"It was very disappointing news. Whatever happens we are going to have to press on with our recycling plans because we have to, we have no choice there are penalties if we do not make the targets.

"Three per cent does not seem like much but it is going to take a lot of work to make that target."

He added that Cumbria County Council, which was recently criticised in a Government audit for its Environment service performance, was holding SLDC up due to a lack of progress in its own waste strategy.

"We cannot make progress unless CCC has completed its strategy it is lagging behind other authorities at the moment."

CCC cabinet environment spokesman Coun Lawson Short was unavailable for comment.

SLDC had planned to use the money to extend the existing waste paper kerbside collection scheme - pioneered earlier this year in parts of Kendal, Grange-over-Sands and Ulverston - and to introduce collection schemes for green waste, bottles and cans.

An expert panel including waste experts in the public, private and community sectors helped process applications to the Defra fund.

This year Defra received more than 190 applications for projects worth a total of £150m and 112 schemes were approved.

Only two local authorities in Cumbria placed successful bids this year Allerdale which was awarded £247,610 and Copeland £433,900. Both authorities plan to put the funding into green waste kerbside collection schemes.

l According to Defra statistics, England recycles or composts just 12 per cent of its household waste - one of the lowest rates in Europe - and the Government has set a target that this rate should rise to 25 per cent by 2005/2006.

January 2, 2003 10:00