Kier contract terminated in East Sussex

THE company delivering Bridgend’s new waste service has had a similar waste contract in the UK terminated early after residents complained about missed collections and poor customer service.

The East Sussex Joint Waste Partnership, which included Eastbourne Borough, Hastings Borough, Rother District, Wealden District and East Sussex county councils, signed a 10-year deal with Kier in December 2012.

But in March the partnership announced a “mutual exit” from the deal, which is now due to end in June 2019.

The deal had been designed to save £30m.

According to a report in the Eastbourne Herald in March the partnership said the market for recycled materials has fallen so much since the contract started that it was “no longer suitable”.

Julian Tranter, managing director of Kier, was quoted in the report saying: “Kier has been delivering waste, recycling, beach and street cleansing services as part of the East Sussex Joint Waste Partnership since 2013, delivering excellent service to circa 200,000 properties in the region. We’re proud of our satisfaction rate of 95% and our investment in local community projects.

“Following significant change in the recycling market Kier and East Sussex Joint Waste Partnership have mutually agreed to end the contract with effect from June 28, 2019. We continue to work closely together to provide a high quality service for residents and stability for our teams during the transition.”

But numerous newspaper reports from 2013 had highlighted problems with the waste contract, with residents facing missed collections.

In August 2013 MP Norman Baker branded the situation a “fiasco” while the waste partnership blamed teething problems.

The Glamorgan Gazette contacted Kier for a response but did not receive one.

Bridgend council said it would only comment on its contract.

Meanwhile councillors in Bridgend have been deluged with complaints.

Plaid Cymru councillor Tim Thomas said: “I and my fellow Plaid Cymru group councillors have been inundated by a significant number of emails and phone calls relating to the new recycling and refuse collection service. These calls relate to a number of issues concerning the actual policy as well as the poor customer service from Kier.

“Many residents, including those who are disabled, are upset by the lack of sensitivity and discretion in which medical issues are being treated, with considerable distress being caused as a result of having to use clearly identifiable purple bags for recycling of absorbent waste.

“But the actual delivery of the service has also been appalling.

Coun Sorrel Dendy, Blaengarw, said: “Once again recycling has been left strewn across the streets of Blaengarw and many residents have not had the new timetable.

“Nappy bags have not been provided to many houses across the county and some houses haven’t had any bags or boxes at all yet.”