Southport Lib Dems Demand Apology from Sefton Council over Holiday Bin Collection Mishap

Southport Lib Dems are calling on Sefton Council to apologise for Christmas
bin chaos and confusion.
Southport Lib Dems are calling for an apology from Sefton Council after Southport residents
were left confused after last minute changes to bin collections over the Christmas period.

“Go back to stickers on bins” Cllr. Lynne Thompson 
 

Recycling bins were due to be collected during Christmas week. This was changed at the last
minute due to waste collection staff being unavailable and the next collection is now
scheduled for the week commencing 8th January.

Residents were caught unaware by the change which was only communicated by social
media and on the Council website a few days before Christmas.

Southport Lib Dems are calling for the Council to issue a full apology and to make sure that
there is better forward planning over future holiday periods to avoid the same thing
happening again.

Lynne Thompson, Ainsdale Ward Councillor, commented : “This is a real failure of forward
planning on the part of Sefton Council. It’s always going to be difficult to get staffing levels
right over Christmas but this should have been identified earlier and communicated far more
clearly.

“Relying on residents seeing things on social media is not adequate. The Council could
consider bringing back a system they used to use which would mean that the last bin
collec;on crews before holidays  would sticker bins with the next collection dates. This would
avoid the chaos of this year.”

John Dodd, Meols Ward Councillor, added: “Many residents had their bins out ready
for collection last week only to wake up to find that not only were their bins full, but
rubbish from them was also strewn across the pavements because of the stormy weather.”

“People need their recycling more than ever over Christmas and the Council should
apologise to residents for the confusion.

"It is hard to see what is being achieved as it will mean that a huge amount of recycled
packaging or paper is likely to go into the general waste stream and landfill. Sending extra
refuse to landfill is not only bad for the environment but costs the council as it loses
recycling credits. This Baldrick like ‘cunning plan’ not only has succeeded in infuriating
residents but might not even save the Council money."