'Take responsibility' - West Lancs Council slammed over continued bin problems

Continued disruption to bin services in West Lancashire has been slammed as failing council tax payers.

In September, the Post reported how the borough’s MP Ashley Dalton had written to Councillor Neil Furey, Chairperson of Communities and Environment Committee at West Lancashire Borough Council (WLBC), over ‘poor and inconsistent service of waste collection’.

For months, residents have complained that waste isn’t collected, or collections are delayed, with one Hesketh Bank home owner labelling the service “appalling”. Another has claimed her food waste bin hasn’t been emptied in four weeks.

Coun Furey responded to Ms Dalton, claiming that the council was undertaking a comprehensive review of its operating model to ensure the service is resilient and sustainable in the future, and would improve communications to households.

He said issues were related to roadworks, staff illness, extreme summer heat and difficulties recruiting and retaining HGV drivers through the council’s agency partner.

This week, a notice was once again posted on WLBC’s website, warning of and apologising for delayed bin collections.

This triggered a post to social media by West Lancashire’s Reform group, tearing into the council’s Conservative and Our West Lancashire (OWL) coalition. It said: “David Whittington, Tory's and Adrian Owens, OWL's lead West Lancashire’s administration. It is time they took responsibility for its failing waste collection service.

“Residents pay council tax for a basic service: bins emptied on time. Instead, they are facing repeated delays, missed collections and poor communication. The council’s own website is again listing collection delays across the borough, with some recycling collections now delayed until 19 November.

“If the administration cannot reliably collect residents’ bins, it cannot credibly claim to be delivering for West Lancashire.”

WLBC has been approached for comment.