Somerset's Bin Collections And Recycling - Are You Happy?

 

Liberal Democrats Don't Listen To You
But Like Spending YOUR Taxes

It's your Council Tax, so you should decide how it is spent. That is how local government is supposed to work, isn't it? 

But the Liberal Democrats who are running 3 of the 4 district councils in Somerset, never asked you about changes to the bins. And the Tories on Sedgemoor did not ask you either. Like we often say - Lib Dem or Tory, same old story.

So please tell us - via Facebook, Twitter, or email, your views:

1. Are you happy with your bin collections being once every three weeks? If not, why not?

2. Are you happy with the new recycling being rolled out in Mendip District Council, without asking residents whether they wanted it? 

Why are we asking you? Because we felt that residents have not been asked by these councils.

But they are doing it to us anyway!

In fact, we KNOW that residents have not been asked, because we have checked with the Chair of the Somerset Waste Partnership, Liberal Democrat Councillor Sarah Dyke.

Our Leader Andrew Pope asked Councillor Dyke a series of questions in a formal letter. He says: 

Andrew Pope

"I know that I'm not the only Somerset resident who is not happy with bin collections every three weeks, especially when bins are missed so often as is clear just from the complaints on the Somerset Waste Partnership's Facebook page. 

People have to use Facebook because they can't get answers by phone!

We at Somerset Independents know that there are huge problems from the massive number of comments and criticisms from residents. 

The Somerset Waste Partnership employs PR people to try to combat the criticism, but still people are unhappy. The latest disruption has been over the Christmas and New Year period.

Collections aren't regular enough for our household, and we recycle as much as possible - large families with nappies must be really struggling. 

In fact, we challenged the Partnership PR people directly on this at one of their "Facebook Q & As". 

They then dictated to us that families should be using washable nappies! As we told them - have you tried? Who do they think they are to tell us this?

It doesn't help that the Somerset Waste Partnership is an unelected QUANGO (Quasi-Non Governmental Organisation), and is unaccountable to residents. 

Somerset residents are regularly confused by the timetables and by who they are, or aren't, supposed to contact when bins are missed again - their Council or the Partnership?

Last year, I challenged Sarah Dyke, the Chair of the Partnership on when residents asked for these changes. Her answer didn't convince me - because residents did not ask for these changes! 

When I asked Councillor Dyke those questions and others, I was grateful for her response. 

Her answers were useful, but not in the way that she might have wished! 

They showed how unaccountable the Somerset Waste Partnership is, and why it is that so many residents feel that they are unhappy with their bin collections and recycling."

 

Denise Wyatt, Co-Founder of Somerset Independents says:

"Let us know your views on this issue and anything else.

We will continue to stand up for you, as that is what we were formed to do - to work with you.

Join our growing group of supporters and activists by getting in touch."

Denise Wyatt