Elmbridge Conservatives are calling on the Council’s governing coalition to get a grip of the faltering garden waste service, after weeks of disruption.
The Liberal Democrat and Resident Association run Council suspended collections in mid-August due to a shortage of drivers. This was in order to prioritise household refuse, food waste and recycling collections, which we accept was necessary.
However, despite assurances to residents and the Conservative councillors that further disruption would not be needed, the situation has deteriorated with more drivers having left the Council’s contractor Amey.
Conservatives are concerned that the LD-RA Coalition appears to have no plan to resolve the problem.
Councillor David Lewis, Shadow Portfolio Holder for Environment, comments: “This is an intolerable situation for the 7,500 Elmbridge households who are paying for a service they are not getting – many are elderly and do not have the means to take bags of garden waste to the tip as the Council is suggesting they do.
“I feel desperately sorry for our residents. They are enduring this disruption at a peak time of the year for garden waste. They have been incredibly patient so far but they are understandably losing faith in the service – we need reassurances that the Administration is getting a grip of the situation and putting a plan in place to ensure that it does not keep happening.
“It is also unacceptable that residents should be given so little notice of cancellations.”
A second planned two-week suspension started on Monday 30 August. The Conservative Group, who are the official opposition at Elmbridge Council, will continue to press the Administration to resolve this issue and to ensure that garden waste subscribers are properly compensated.