By Bill HeaneyWheelie bin chaos is about to ensue for West Dunbartonshire residents after Labour councillors approved changes to the bin uplift service over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
According to Community Party councillor Jim Bollan, it could be up to four weeks before some bins are emptied over the busiest period of the year for many families.
Paper wrapping and food waste are certain to pile up as the backlog for collection stretches out to a month or more.
Some residents are raging including Caitlin Hopkinson who told The Dumbarton Democrat: “I already struggle at two weeks never mind three plus weeks over the festive holidays. It’s a joke.”
But it’s one of those jokes that nobody is laughing at. Marion O’Neill summed it up in one word – “Disgraceful.”
Sylvia Winslow added: “My full waste bin would have been due to be emptied Christmas Day and now they’re saying it won’t be emptied till the 8th of January. That’s four weeks between collections. That’s not a reschedule that’s a cancelled collection all together.”
Mark Brown addressed the spin doctoring in the council information about this. He said: “It’s not been changed, it’s been cancelled. Also it will be four weeks for both bins.”
Jackie Kerr said: “My two weeks is up on Christmas Day and I’ve to wait another two weeks on top, so four weeks before bin emptied.
“All Christmas boxes and so on will be thrown out on to the street. The street going to be full of rubbish.”
Mark Spicer took a wider view of events. He said: “There’s a theme starting to emerge with Labour, first they don’t reverse the two child cap when it’s the fundamental reason why child poverty has increased; second, they remove the heating allowance for pensioners, just before winter knowing that some pensioners could die as a result of this decision; third they deny WASPI women what they truly deserve and now the local Labour Party at the council cut back bin collections right at Christmas when most people’s household waste increases.”
Michelle Robinson is very angry at the decision. She told us: “This is an outrage. What do we pay our council tax for when we are getting our services cut back ? I for one would like a refund, but that’s a joke to this council….absolutly disgusting…”
Hope Remraf suggested: “Take it all to the council offices and dump it!”
And Charlie Mcdonald said: “Haven’t got a clue. Disgrace no vision or planning whatsoever.”
Stephen Paul put it down to “madness” and Paul Ras commented: “With the weather forecast for high winds, the bins will be scattered all over the place and litter will be all over the place.”
Elaine McDonald summed it up. She said: “It’s 4 WEEKS! My normal uplift is a Wednesday and household waste was lifted last week.
“How can Labour councillors make these decisions without any input from the opposition? Was it a private meeting behind closed doors that the opposition knew nothing about and weren’t in attendance? Is this the level of service we have to accept? Because it’s NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!”
Mary Taylor told Cllr Bollan: “Jim, this will encourage fly tipping and rats. Are these people mad?”
Margaret Mcmillan suggested residents should stop paying council tax.”
The Dumbarton Democrat would have asked for a response from West Dunbartonshire Council, but they have told us they will not speak to us about anything in relation to them. We’re banned – and we’re proud of it.