BROMSGROVE residents have hit out after seeing bags of rubbish pile up outside their homes after another week of disruption to the waste collection service.
Bromsgrove District Council claimed the disruptions are because of an ‘overspend on agency staff’ but maintained officers were currently looking at ways to resolve the issue.
Areas affected include central Bromsgrove, Stoke Prior, Finstall and Hagley.
Bill Newnes, from Stratford Road, said: “It’s so annoying that our bins are not being picked up on time.
“For some people in the area it’s almost three weeks since the council last came to collect the rubbish.
“We have to keep checking the council website to find out when a new date for collection will be organised.”
On the website it says the council is reviewing how to deliver the waste collection services ‘within its current resources’ after the major overspend.
Labour group leader, Coun Michael Thompson has called for immediate long-term action.
He said: “I have already had a number of calls from upset residents.
“They are concerned the build up of refuge will bring back the rat problems seen in the district over the last few months.
“In the hot weather, the smell from the build-up of waste has meant many residents are not using their gardens.”
The district council’s head of environmental services Guy Revans said the disruptions were also down to high levels of sickness from employees.
“As we manage this we’re prioritising any bins we miss and will always aim to pick them up on the next working day.
“The bottom line is we are over the budget for this year despite the fact our crews can often finish their day’s work early.
“Obviously this isn’t right so we’re changing the collection rounds to better fit our working hours and ensure we’re using all our own capacity first.”
Mr Revans expects the delays to settle down quickly as the council continue to monitor the situation.
Coun Margaret Sherrey, the council’s portfolio holder for environmental services, said officers were looking at ways to stop the overspend and create a sustainable service.
“If it’s found there is a real need for extra resources to collect the bins over and above current budgets, whether due to new houses being built or anything else, then we will of course look at that during budget setting.”
