Apology for rubbish collection (From Stroud News and Journal)

Apology for rubbish collection

THOUSANDS of angry residents have bombarded the telephone lines at Ebley Mill to register their disgust at Stroud District Council's inadequate rubbish collections.

More than 14,000 people hit the phone lines in four days as the Stroud Valleys looked like disappearing under a deluge of waste. Black bags spilled out on to the street, dog bins were left overflowing and recycling boxes were left uncollected on the kerbside.

Embarassed officials at the council were forced to admit they were failing and issued a public apology to residents with a promise to get it right from now on.

The council was left unable to cope with the sheer volume of calls from irate residents whose rubbish and recycling had been left to fester on the pavements.

Tony Hill of The Bassetts, Cashes Green told the SNJ: "Three weeks ago black boxes were collected. I missed that one, so still have a redundant black box.

"Two weeks ago I put out the black and green boxes. The black box and its contents were not collected. I was told a collection would be made on Friday.

"On Friday I put out the full black and green boxes plus four carriers. Nothing was collected."

Mr Hill said he is inclined to suggest to his neighbours that they should deliver all the rubbish to the council's doorstep.

Some Amberley and Minchinhampton residents contacted the News & Journal to complain they had not yet seen their green boxes, let alone had them collected.

David Marshall, a spokesman for the council said on Monday: "There have been a huge range of queries and complaints."

"The telephone lines were jammed up but things have calmed down considerably. But he said: "14,000 calls doesn't mean 14,000 people - a lot of people phoned several times."

A joint statement from the council and its contractor ServiceTeam was issued in local newspapers stating: "Performance has not been to your or our satisfaction.

"Our staff have been working very hard to put things right and we are grateful to everyone for their patience."

Stroud District Council is now trying to persuade people they can look forward to an improved service.

"We've ditched the Monday collections thereby eliminating the bank holiday problem which has been the greatest source of complaints over the years," said Mr Marshall.

"But that means 80 per cent of properties have got a new collection day and the refuse collectors are unfamiliar with their new rounds.

"We are fairly confident the refuse collection has bedded down - that problem is behind us."

He did concede there may still be difficulties with the kerbside recycling.

"We've been caught out by the huge bulk that's had to be recycled," he said.

"As far as we're concerned everybody should now have their boxes though there may be one or two exceptions."

"We apologise to anyone who may have been missed out and would ask them to call us."

The council has also pledged to make overflowing dog bins a priority.

Elderly and disabled residents have also been assured that the scheme to collect recycling waste from homes rather than the street has not been abandoned.

Anyone who has been missed should leave a note for them the next time they are due. Mr Marshall said the council was sorry.

"It probably could have been managed better in retrospect," he said.

"But it's easy to be wise after the event.

"We hope people will understand that we've been caught out."