A recycling scheme has been put on hold while complaints from neighbours and wrangles over land ownership rumble on.

The row broke out after Wandsworth Council announced it was to install recycling bins in Putney Hill.

However, before the project got underway, Headley Court residents opposed the scheme as they believed the bins would turn into a glorified rubbish dump.

The Putney Commons Conservators, who look after the commons, also raised angry protests after claiming the land belonged to them and not the council.

One resident said: "We're not very happy about this because we weren't consulted.

"What we object to is there is already a recycling bank up near the Telegraph pub. It would be more sensible if it were put more centrally.

"It will look unsightly and people will just abuse it so it becomes a dump. The bottle bank will be overflowing and there will be glass everywhere."

The council says it was originally responding to requests from other residents who wanted the facilities.

But it has stopped work so a proper consultation exercise can be held.

It also does not accept the conservators' claims that the land is theirs. The council holds a copy of a map on which the conservators have marked off their land and the relevant area is not included.

A council spokesman said: "The conservators confirmed to us in writing last March they do not own the land."

After learning of the council's stance, a conservators spokesman said: "We are going to investigate this."

December 20, 2001 16:30