"Waste contract roll out is rubbish - why?" - Dillon

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 3rd Jul 2008

Following a stream of public criticism of the new waste collections supposed to be taking place around West Berkshire, Councillor Lee Dillon from Thatcham North is demanding to know what action Waste Chief Geoff Findlay intends to take to improve matters.

In a question tabled to next Thursday's Executive meeting, Councillor Dillon has asked the following:

"It does not seem that your roll out of the new recycling and waste collection service has been particularly successful. People have complained in the newspaper either that their day was changed and they were not told, that they have not received their new bins, that the wrong area's collection calendar was delivered to them or that when they tried to find out their new collection schedule they were unable to do so as the recycling service 'postcode finder' website did not yield any information. Some people have not had their waste or recycling collected for over four weeks. What exactly is the Executive Member for Waste proposing to do to improve this situation for West Berkshire residents?"

Councillor Dillon explained why the situation had prompted him to ask the question:

"The failings of the new waste service are great and many and tax payers deserve better. What worries me the most is that despite huge public criticism, reams of letters complaining in the press and on the internet, the Councillor with responsibility for waste has said 'I think it's going as well as, if not better, than can be expected'! I am asking him how he intends to improve matters as I think people have a right to know that they can expect the current appalling situation to get better."