WHAT A MESS!
Brown bin round mix-up leaves residents angry
ANGRY householders in Gwynedd are up-in-arms over missed garden waste collections during the festive period.
Garndolbenmaen residents say their brown bins were left full at kerbsides on December 29 despite refuse collection calendars showing the service was due that day.
Villagers fear they have been “denied their last ever free brown bin collection”, with gardeners in Gwynedd having to fork out up to £33 a year to have their garden waste collected fortnightly from January 9.
County councillor Steve Churchman, one of the residents affected, said he was concerned that many people are being left with brown bins that are full and will never be emptied.”
Cllr Churchman said: “I placed my brown bin at the kerbside as normal along with the blue boxes.
“The first I knew of the problem was when I was contacted by a neighbour asking why the bins had not been emptied.
“There were a number of brown bins out that day and all had been left”.
He says that a letter issued to residents informing them of the new garden waste service states “collection days will not change” and that his refuse collection calendar said the bins should have been collected on December 29.
Despite the correspondence, Cllr Churchman claims he contacted Gwynedd Council who told him that the final brown bin collection had been on December 15 and that no more collections would be made.
Cllr Churman added: “I have contacted the cleansing manager immediately after the new year public holiday to complain that correspondence issued by the council clearly states ‘your collection day will not change.
“You can check your collection day on your calendar’ – I am concerned that this has resulted in many people being left with brown bins that are full and will never be emptied. People are being denied their last ever free brown bin collection due to misleading information.”
The concerns come after Gwynedd Council’s cabinet last year voted in favour of bringing in the charge to make a £750,000 saving in the 2017/18 financial year.
The move will see residents charged £33 a year for collecting their garden waste in a 240 litre-size bin and £28 a year for every additional or smaller 140 litre bin.
The charges will be introduced from January 9, 2017.
Gwynedd council has been approached for comment.