Roger Symonds and Cherry Beath

Waste Day for Combe Down is now Friday.  Two weeks ago, when the changes first came into operation the changeover from Monday and Thursday was reasonably smooth.  The main problems seemed to have been that some new drivers/collectors did not know the area – this was only to be expected and will get better.  However the problematic Garden Waste and Cardboard collections last Friday were another matter.

This was our week for these fortnightly collections, but in many areas in Combe Down the trucks did not arrive.  Owing to the changeover it has been three weeks since the last collection.  Friday  is the worst day for collections, but I suppose someone has to have their waste collected on that day.

It means that bin waste from the weekend has to be stored all week and if collections are missed Monday is the next working day.  We had received assurances from Waste Services that any ‘missed bins’ would be collected on the Saturday.  This week that promise was broken.

There are bound to be teething problems with such a fundamental change in waste collections, but there have been problems with the Garden Waste and Cardboard collections for the past couple of years.  Much of Combe Down was regularly missed on a Thursday, but most times the Garden Waste and Cardboard was collected the following day.  We were told by the council that these problems would be lessened with the change to a Friday – it does not appear that there has been any improvement.

We are at present in contact with the Council to get an explanation.  We want an assurance that if  there are further problems with Friday collections that they will be remedied on Saturday and not left until Monday (my garden waste and cardboard was collected at about 9am this morning).

Our collection time has changed, so that the trucks will not be in Combe Down village during the morning rush hour, so Cherry and I will be seeking a revised time for residents to put out their waste.  At present waste can be on the street from Thursday evening until Friday afternoon, whereas before on a Monday, it was gone before the morning rush hour.

We are totally behind ‘same day collections’ because recycling will increase as a result, but in Combe Down there are still some issues to be sorted out before we can be satisfied with the service that the Council provides.

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