Residents in the Cotswolds express frustration over ongoing missed bin collections, prompting apologies from council leaders.
Cotswold: The Cotswold District Council made changes to waste collection routes last year. They aimed to improve efficiency for 60% of households.
Since the new routes started in June, there have been many delays. Council leaders apologized multiple times for the issues, which some residents called chaotic.
Despite the changes, missed collections continue. In December alone, there were 355 reported missed collections.
Last week, Councillor Jeremy Theyer asked why the problems still persist. He noted that five months after the changes, missed collections remain high.
Tristan Wilkinson, the cabinet member for economy and environment, apologized again. He assured residents that a plan is in place to address the ongoing issues.
Wilkinson shared that collections have improved since the rezoning. In October, there were 829 missed collections, which dropped to 243 in November.
Currently, Sandywell ward has a collection success rate of 99.2%. The district overall is performing even better at 99.98%.
Severe weather, like flooding and icy roads, has caused some interruptions. However, 80% of missed collections are fixed within 48 hours.
Wilkinson acknowledged the frustration and thanked residents for their patience. He believes the trend of fewer missed collections will continue.
During a council meeting, Cllr Theyer questioned the accuracy of the reported figures. He mentioned that some residents struggle to report issues.
Wilkinson confirmed that the council tracks missed collections and resident complaints. They are working on a plan to improve service in problem areas.
He noted that while overall numbers look good, some areas still face challenges. The council aims to identify and address these specific issues.
