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Lib Dem Focus Teams demand urgent review of demands on refuse service at Christmas time

by Ian Shires on 8 January, 2016

150502 Allens RoughLib Dem FOCUS Teams across Willenhall have demanded urgent action to resolve an environmental threat which particularly appears to affect residents living in Walsall Housing Group (WHG) flats across New Invention and Short Heath.

It’s not exclusively a WHG related issue the Focus Teams have had complaints from housing estates and private flat residents on Squires Gate in New Invention.

The extra household rubbish which generally accumulates at Christmas time seems to have caught out the usually efficient Council refuse service. The issue has affected a number of areas due to the way the Christmas holiday has fallen this year with many residents not aware of changes to their regular collection days.

The problem is particularly bad around 3 story blocks of flats where refuse removal is carried out by bulk collection bins housed in bin stores. There seems to be an argument between the Council and WHG as to who deals with the stuff that can’t be put in the bulk bin because it is full. This has also been the cause of the problems on Squires Gate.

“The whose rubbish is it? argument is probably the most frustrating one for residents” said Lib Dem FOCUS Team Cllr Ian Shires. “If you live in a house then usually at Christmas time it’s acceptable to put out a couple of bags alongside your bin. If you live in a flat and do this then the extra bags are left behind. That’s when the problems start and the residents are caught in the middle of a bureaucratic argument. There is nothing more frustrating!”

Lib Dem FOCUS Team Cllr Ian Shires has emailed Walsall Council demanding urgent action in order to avoid a potential environmental health problem. “This problem has surfaced this year as a result of cost cutting. In previous years stickers were put on bins informing residents what the arrangements would be over the holiday period. That hasn’t happened this time round.

“Sure the Council will say that resident s should refer to the calender that is delivered to each household or refer to the Council’s web site. This clearly hasn’t worked and I am urging the Council to have a re think of communications.”

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