Apologies as bins are not lifted in town

Apologies as bins are not lifted in town

20 June 2012 - by BY DAVID TELFORD

DOWN Council has apologised to a number of ratepayers in Newcastle for a delay in lifting their bins last week.

Bins were left unemptied at the kerbside at several housing developments off the Bryansford Road last Wednesday after another bin lorry broke down. The breakdown is the latest in a series which is concerning both senior council officials and local politicians.

Councillor Patrick Clarke, who was contacted by concerned ratepayers in Newcastle, is concerned at the number of times the bin lorries are breaking down.

He said mechanical problems result in ratepayers not being provided with an effective service and expressed concern at the four-day bin collection service Down Council introduced recently.

He continued: “I’m receiving complaints about the bin collection service on a weekly basis. Ratepayers are concerned about the seemingly ad hoc way bins are being collected.

“Ratepayers have a right to expect this very basic service being delivered on a regular basis. But with a volume of breakdowns and no bins being collected when they should, there is a concern.”

He added: “While I appreciate Down Council’s fleet of bin lorries is ageing, the complaints from ratepayers in the Newcastle, Dundrum and Castlewellan areas about the service they are receiving are increasing and something must be done.”

A Down Council spokeswoman confirmed a number of areas in Newcastle did not receive a refuse collection service on Wednesday of last week as a result of a breakdown. She said the bins were collected the following day.

“The council would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to householders. Unfortunately, the service has been affected over the past number of months due to a number of issues, one being vehicles developing faults. In such incidents of non-collection, householders should keep their bin out until collection takes place,” she said.

The spokeswoman said in the short term, the council will be addressing vehicle faults through its vehicle maintenance section and is presently reviewing refuse collection vehicle requirements, which should ultimately rectify the situation.