Westminster council and freesheets move towards recycling agreement

Westminster City Council says it has had “productive” meetings with the publishers of London’s two afternoon freesheets, thelondonpaper and London Lite, over contributions to its £500,000 recycling costs.

The council says that it is too early to confirm if an amicable resolution will be reached. It says a final ruling could be weeks away, because of the “complexity of the legal framework” but refused to give further details.

Westminster previously issued a statement saying that News International’s thelondonpaper and Associated Newspaper’s London Lite would be banned from distributing in the area if they did not significantly contribute to its recycling plans. The ultimatum came after both publishers failed to come with a “satisfactory offer” to help run the recycling scheme.

Steve Auckland, head of Associated Newspapers free newspapers, says that the publisher is now “much closer” to reaching an agreement following its meeting with the council but he would not be drawn on the level of funding it has offered.

Auckland, however, challenged thelondonpaper to “make an equitable contribution” to Westminster City Council.