COTSWOLD council leaders have apologised to residents for “unacceptable delays” in their rubbish collections.

Civic chiefs say they received numerous complaints since the start of July from many villagers who are angry about missed bin collections – with some “waiting for weeks on end”.

Cotswold District Council unveiled plans earlier this year to alter the waste collection days for 60 per cent of households in the district.

The new collection rounds which began on June 24 were implemented to reduce cost by £375,000 during the current financial year and some £500,000 a year thereafter.

Council leaders said households may experience a change in their collection days but had promised residents they would continue to receive the same level of service.

However, the changes have proved to be a nightmare for many residents who have not had their bins collected for weeks, according to Councillor Julia Judd (C, Ermin).

She has received emails from villages including Salterley Grange, Cowley, Coberley, Elkstone, Sapperton, Frampton Mansell, Duntisbourne Abbots and Middle Duntisbourne.

She said it doesn’t take long before missed food waste collections become infested with flies and maggots.

"It is a really awful situation" 

“My residents are angry,” she said. “I have been fielding irate emails about missed bin collections since July 3.

“Those who subscribe to the green bin waste service are particularly irate because not only do they pay for the service, it is a busy time in the gardener’s year and in some cases the rotting vegetation is causing other undesirable issues.

Councillor Julia Judd pictured next to a bin in Duntisbourne Abbots

“Missed food waste collections are also an environmental concern, in this heat it doesn’t take long before they become infested with flies and maggots. In some cases bins have been left out for collection for literally weeks on end.

“Some of the incidents I have reported to Cotswold District Council have been resolved quickly, but it is a bit like ‘whack the rat’, as one area is collected, another one isn’t. It is a really awful situation.’

“Of course, it’s a good thing for the Council and Ubico to find economies, but the delivery of this plan is disappointing.”

Deputy leader and finance cabinet member Mike Evemy (LD, Siddington and Cerney Rural) at Cotswold District Council, apologised for the delays.

“While most households are receiving their waste collections as scheduled, we are aware that there are some areas where our service has fallen short,” he said.

“We apologise to those residents who have had an unacceptable delay in having their refuse or recycling collected and we would like to reassure those affected that we are working with our waste partner, Ubico, to resolve these issues.

“Crews are returning as quickly as possible to make any outstanding collections with additional crews and vehicles out supporting the catch-up.

“If householders have already reported a missed collection to us, we’d like to assure them that our crews will be returning.

“If anyone has not had their collection made as expected, and not yet reported this to us, we’d urge them to let us know as soon as possible.

“The easiest way to do this is online at: www.cotswold.gov.uk/missedcollection.”