Another “unexpected” *coughs* bill for East Ayrshire taxpayers

Stephen McNamara · 10 November 2026

Responding to: Council faces extra £277k bill for upgrading recycling centres (BBC News)

East Ayrshire Council is facing an extra £277,000 bill for upgrading its recycling centres. The work is part of the council's wider waste services review and includes new food waste facilities.

Nobody is against decent recycling centres. People in the area want somewhere that works when they turn up with a car full of garden waste or an old fridge. But I'm tired of a pattern I keep seeing.

Whenever the council takes something on, whether it's as simple as planting some daffodils next to a bus station, or something a bit more complicated like upgrading a waste site, the word "unexpected" always seems to crop up. Guaranteed it always adds a big chunk to the cost. The people who end up paying for it are the ones slaving away for the tax collectors!

An extra £277,000 is not small change. It's money that could be going on roads, local services or keeping costs down for families who are already stretched.

When costs keep running over and nobody can reasonably explain why, people lose trust in the council. It’s no wonder the phrase, “brown envelopes”, doesn’t go away! The way to fix this is openness and complete transparency, not more “surprises”. Every pound spent should be accounted for, and residents should be able to see it.

If you've suffered from the council’s handling of waste services or the recycling centre you use, leave a comment below.