BOROUGH chiefs say they are clamping down on single-use plastics – but opposition members insist there is more work to be done.

Cheshire West and Chester Council agreed to phase out single-use plastics and encourage other businesses to do the same at a meeting last December.

Cllr Jill Houlbrook, Conservative, put forward a motion calling for plastic straws to be ditched in the borough – but the ruling Labour group voted through an amendment which also called for plastic food and drink containers to be shunned.

Cllr Karen Shore, cabinet member for environment, says the council is committed to phasing out single-use plastics and has made progress over the past six months.

“The issue will be considered as part of the ongoing review of our waste strategy and we will also be encouraging local businesses to phase out their use,” she said.

“Licensing officers are discouraging their use in licensed premises and encouraging the use of alternatives.

“Brio Leisure is currently phasing out all single use plastic in our leisure centres and we have an audit being carried out to see where else we can cut the use of plastics.”

Councillors were told in December that a working group was looking at waste disposal issues, and Labour’s amendment said the council would look into improving the recycling of single-use plastics.

At its HQ building in Chester, CWAC has also replaced all plastic cups with biodegradable paper ones – made with a starch lining to prevent leaks instead of the plastic one found in most disposable cups.

But the council is still in the process of phasing out plastic cups at its Wyvern House site, in Winsford, or at Civic Way, in Ellesmere Port.

Cllr Lynn Riley, leader of CWAC’s Conservative opposition, is disappointed at the pace of change.

The Frodsham councillor thinks Labour’s amendment was too broad – and points to the Straw Free Chester campaign as ‘living proof’ that a small change can make a big difference.

“Labour members were quick to hijack our motion and have been very slow to deliver against their amended version,” she said.

“It’s been six months since we met at that council meeting and still we are drinking out of plastic cups in Wyvern House, have vending machines full of plastic bottles and are still working on the ‘working group’.

“The council can and must lead by example. And it has to go further, not just telling people what they can do but coming up with viable alternatives for residents and our public places.

“We don’t want to disadvantage local businesses or the many people who have specific needs, so this needs some practical, pragmatic and people-friendly policies that transcend the politics and can be put in place today.”