Leader defends standard of street cleaning
COUNCIL chiefs have defended the cleanliness of Hyndburn’s streets after an £800,000 budget cut.
Leader councillor Miles Parkinson said the new recycling system introduced last summer has ‘resulted in far less litter blowing onto our streets’ and that more than 650 bins are emptied across the borough on a ‘regular basis’.
It comes after former Clayton-le-Moors Independent councillor Nick Collingridge accused the current administration of a ‘dereliction of duty’ and claimed volunteers are helping the council to carry out ‘ basic services’.
In a letter to the Observer, Mr Collingridge said; “Since the latest round of cuts from Hyndburn council we have seen the level of cleanliness of our streets go down.
“Where we once had a designated street cleaner, even after the cuts, we had the same person every two days, we now never know from day to day who will be doing the job, if anyone.
“People have, over the past few years, been able to rely on the bins being emptied on a regular basis. No more.
“In defence of local people they are using waste bins, but when you walk round, most of these are overflowing so more waste is being deposited of the floor.
“With the new enforcement team in place how can anyone be charged with littering if the local council cannot empty bins and keep our streets clean?
“And will these people be issusing tickets to councillors for dereliction of duty? “I think not. “Volunteers are already doing a sterling job in helping to keep back streets clean but we cannot expect them to do basic services which should be a priory for the council.”
Coun Parkinson said they have taken a ‘number of tough decisions’ after Lancashire County Council withdrew £800,000 in funding support but no compulsory redundancies have been made and they will ‘always look to prioritise front line services’.
He said: “It was fair to say that the previous recycling scheme involving bags and boxes needed a greater street cleansing presence in the townships, due to the potential for windblown recycling litter.
“However, the new collection method involving wheeled bins has resulted in far less litter blowing onto our streets and since the new scheme started, many residents have commented on how the cleanliness of the borough has improved.”