Still rubbish chaos on the streets

RESIDENTS ARE facing problems with Rother District Council's waste recycling fiasco this week.

More than a week after the service was launched, angry homeowners were still unable to get through on the council's recycling help-line.

Many accused the council of burying its head in the sand, while one fed-up resident dubbed it 'Bother Council'.

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Anne Lernihan, from Fairlight, said: "You can't get through and they are ignoring emails - it is a great way to deal with the public.

"They were supposed to collect on Monday and didn't come. I am now in the process of loading up my car and recycling elsewhere.

"Many of the black boxes came without lids and papers have been blown across the road.

"I accept this is a mammoth task but you get the sinking feeling that the people who are doing it are not capable."

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Problems have also been reported at Brede and Iden. Joan Westbrook, from Brede, described the situation as 'crummy' and added: "Everyone in Broad Oak. area except The Hawthornes, Oakfield Drive and Tillingham View, had their waste collected as per schedule last Thursday.

"But we didn't and we will have to hang on to our rubbish for a total of three weeks. Definitely not acceptable. What about our health and safety?

"What is the council doing about this problem? They won't answer the phones, letters or e-mails.

Trevor Elliott, head of corporate resources at the council, said: "The operational difficulties resulted in our experiencing exceptional call levels.

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"In addition to dedicated recycling enquiry staff, additional resources have been identified to answer customer enquiries and respond as quickly as possible to all messages received.

"The situation is being closely monitored on a daily basis and it does appear that call volumes are now starting to reduce."

At Monday night's overview and scrutiny committee, councillors were presented with a report by Tony Leonard, director of services, which gave an update on the rollout of the new scheme.

The report acknowledged there had been a number of difficulties encountered on several of the rounds across the district, which had resulted in residents not having their waste or recycling collected on the previously appointed days.

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This, coupled with areas still not having received boxes or information packs, created problems and residents' frustration was increased by their inability to get through on the special help lines.

Committee members noted the huge amount of work council staff had picked up as a result of shortcomings on the part of contractors, and accepted the prime task at present was to get the system properly settled in and clear the backlog of calls and enquiries generated in the first week of the new scheme.

It was agreed the first meeting of the waste management working group would receive a report from the director setting out exactly why these problems had arisen and examining the roles played by contractors and others in this situation.

Committee chairman Cllr Christopher Starnes, said: "Clearly it is of concern that many residents have faced disruption and indeed disappointment and annoyance as a result of failures in the rollout of the new service.

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"However we need to recognise that in something over 70% of the district, the rollout has gone very satisfactorily. I anticipate we will still have a degree of problems to face over the weeks but I am confident the officers will soon clear the backlog of calls."

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