Residents in large parts of Birkdale and central Southport were left fuming this Tuesday as Green Bins dutifully left out for emptying were ignored by Sefton Council’s refuse department. Residents learnt they would not now be collected for months.

The last day pre -winter for green bin collection for this area had been clearly scheduled for 30th November and residents relied on the calendar published.

However, Sefton changed the date giving notification of the change on the Sefton website only.

This has seriously annoyed residents as many gardeners in preparation for the winter have cleared up piles of leafs as nature beds down for winter, organising themselves around the green bin collection rota.

“None of us are sad enough to regularly check changes on Sefton’s website”, says Liberal Democrat councillor, John Pugh, “and not everyone knows how to. The Council have blundered.This is the one Council service absolutely everyone relies.”

“The Council should apologise and book another date, taking the obvious step of letting us know this time.“

Originally Posted by editor

Residents in large parts of Birkdale and central Southport were left fuming this Tuesday as Green Bins dutifully left out for emptying were ignored by Sefton Council’s refuse department. Residents learnt they would not now be collected for months.

The last day pre -winter for green bin collection for this area had been clearly scheduled for 30th November and residents relied on the calendar published.

However, Sefton changed the date giving notification of the change on the Sefton website only.

This has seriously annoyed residents as many gardeners in preparation for the winter have cleared up piles of leafs as nature beds down for winter, organising themselves around the green bin collection rota.

“None of us are sad enough to regularly check changes on Sefton’s website”, says Liberal Democrat councillor, John Pugh, “and not everyone knows how to. The Council have blundered.This is the one Council service absolutely everyone relies.”

“The Council should apologise and book another date, taking the obvious step of letting us know this time.“

We're in the midst of a global pandemic, a new variant means more travel restrictions & making mask wearing compulsory, some people are still without power following Storm Arwen and people are fuming that their bins haven't been emptied, a reality check is needed!

Originally Posted by gsgsgs

We're in the midst of a global pandemic, a new variant means more travel restrictions & making mask wearing compulsory, some people are still without power following Storm Arwen and people are fuming that their bins haven't been emptied, a reality check is needed!

People are quite entitled to be fuming about it. The council set the timetable for collections and if they later choose to change that timetable, they should ensure that the public are well informed. A mention on the council website is totally inadequate.

Originally Posted by duncet

People are quite entitled to be fuming about it. The council set the timetable for collections and if they later choose to change that timetable, they should ensure that the public are well informed. A mention on the council website is totally inadequate.

But fuming!

Lost count of the times my bins be it green, grey or brown haven't been emptied, was I fuming (feeling, showing, or expressing great anger) no, can't say as I was in the least bit bothered, simply report it on the council website and it gets emptied a day or so later.

With all that is going on in the world far worse things to fume about that a bin not being emptied.

Originally Posted by gsgsgs

But fuming!

Lost count of the times my bins be it green, grey or brown haven't been emptied, was I fuming (feeling, showing, or expressing great anger) no, can't say as I was in the least bit bothered, simply report it on the council website and it gets emptied a day or so later.

With all that is going on in the world far worse things to fume about that a bin not being emptied.

Not always a day or two later. Anyway - I forgot to put my black bin out last week, no problem. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

Perhaps the Council is just preparing residents for when they block off all the roads and the refuse vehicles can’t reach them.

To summarise, these poor residents will have to wheel the bin back onto their property and wait until green collections resume - I do hope counselling will be made available to help them 'process' this traumatic event.

Originally Posted by editor

This is the one Council service absolutely everyone relies.”

The Lib Dems should apologise for many things, for example:

1) being out of touch with “the one service” but guess it’s any chance to point score, as yes people want the service but I’m sure there are dozens of other services more important.
2) being out of touch with the council decisions as this decision was made months ago as there was a mistake in how many weeks they counted for the service. If John Pugh was more in touch with what was going on he could have put one of his press releases out rather that waiting to ever cry foul.
3) bleating at the time while in their “focus” newsletters that they’d stopped us from being tricked into paying extra for green bins when in reality we got less as it went from every two weeks to every three week collection. Don’t seem to recall any consultation saying would you rather get less for same amount of council tax or pay £46 a year, may have still ended up the same answer but at least the question would have been clear.

The Lib Dems seem to forget that they are supposed to be on the council representing us, not just moaning in the local press to try and keep themselves relevant as there’s absolutely no evidence in the below John Pugh has tried to find a solution with the council before going down a divisive route.