Conservative controlled West Lancs Borough Council is investing in new blue recycling bins for residents and improvements to public open spaces in Burscough and Skelmersdale. The Conservative Group budget, announced last night, paved the way for residents to have the option of having their blue recycling box replaced with a wheelie bin if they wish. The budget also announced investment in Burscough's Richmond Park, improvements in Skelmersdale, and funding for a graduate trainee. £100,000 has also been set aside to deal with issues at the playing fields in Abbey Lane. Council Tax was also frozen for the fourth year in a row. The Labour Group refused to support these measures, and instead abstained on the budget. This investment comes hot on the heels of investment announced last year for improvementst in Ormskirk and the expansion of CCTV across West Lancashire. Conservative Group finance spokesman Cllr David Westley said: "Unlike Labour, we have been financially prudent and this has enabled us to invest despite tough times. Had we followed Labour's suggestions, we would have had no money to invest in frontline service improvements because it would have been blown on bureaucracy and waste. "This is a good news budget from the Conservative Group." Conservative Group leader Cllr Ian Grant said: "The council's waste and recycling collection service is perhaps one of the most visible frontline services as it is the one which residents see every week. "Our recycling rates have increased since the Conservative Group introduced kerbside recycling around 10 years ago. With residents now having the option of having a blue bin, if they wish, we are hopeful it will lead to increased satisfaction with the service." Cllr David Sudworth, Conservative spokesman for leisure, welcomed the investment in Burscough and Skelmersdale: "I am pleased this Conservative council is continuing to invest in public open spaces. Richmond Park has a new Friends of the Park Group, instigated by this Conservative council, and I hope that, coupled with this boost, it will open up a new chapter for the park. I am also pleased we are allocating £100,000 to tackle the ongoing issues at Abbey Lane. "For Skelmersdale, we are looking to regenerate the area behind the library and install new seating to make it more attractive, as well as undertaking some necessary repairs. "I am sure residents will be puzzled as to why Labour could not bring themselves to vote for these proposals." Burscough Conservative Cllr Ruth Melling welcomed the investment locally: "This shows that despite tough times, Conservatives are working hard and delivering investment into Burscough. It is a shame Labour refused to support this."