Letters: Three men and a food bin in the New Forest

Judging by the number of local people that have already voiced their dissatisfaction in relation to the newly introduced refuse collection arrangements. It is somewhat reasonable to think that whoever has the responsibility for making these arrangements might just have taken some note of the feedback arising out of what these changes have brought about? In my particular case, I need to point out that the designated dustbin area that I am obliged to use also serves a total of 18 similar properties. All of which are flats, many of which have young families living in them. So we all know just how much waste they can create, don’t we?

This morning, I witnessed three men turn up in a large lorry. One with a bin lift on the back. They were here to empty one small food waste bin. I went outside to talk with them, asking the obvious question as to why it took three men to do a job, which in all honesty I think I could have done quite easily on my own. No reasonable answer was given. But, but they did agree with my point of view in regard to it being a total waste of manpower while also pointing out that they were just doing as they were ordered by their manager.

They also saw that the black dustbin bag bins, four in number, were all completely full to overflowing, and that quite a lot of the bags in the top of the bins had quite obviously been attacked and ripped apart by seagulls, cats, rats and foxes – all of which I have seen from my windows. This has resulted in the bag contents being strewn about all over the place. The men told me that they would report back on what they had seen, while adding that it probably wouldn’t change anything, as it was a fairly common problem. They also told me that the mess that the birds and animals had made would not be cleared away, as the bin men were not allowed to pick up anything from the ground. Later that same morning, the household waste bin men arrived, as expected, and sure enough, very little, indeed, less than half of the bin contents were subsequently removed. We, the residents, are now left with a whole lot of stinking household waste littering our previously clean dustbin area.

It was rarely like this before this new fortnightly system was introduced. The bin men were quick to say that it is not their fault that this is now happening. They were also quick to agree that it is quite unacceptable for their bosses not to be doing anything toward rectifying what is happening. So if your readers are having somewhat similar problems, how about they put it into print as I am endeavouring to do here? That way, we might just bring some pressure to bare on the people responsible at NFDC. Better still, how about we all start refusing to pay our rates until it is properly sorted?

Name and address supplied

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PREDICTABLY, there has been a plethora of correspondence about the new waste collection services. I wonder just how much the NFDC has spent of our money on four bins for every household when the old system worked perfectly, not forgetting the cost of new vehicles compatible with the new bins.

But my main concern is unnecessary waste in general. Frys Lane in Everton was recently completely resurfaced, the necessity for which eludes even the locals as there are much more pressing needs, Silver Street for one example.

But within 30 yards of the eastern end of Frys Lane with Wainsford Road, potholes in the new surface are already developing!

Patrick Ridley-Martin

Everton

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IN our street in Brockenhurst our food bins have not been collected for three weeks.

Strangely on the NFDC website it shows complete.

Who is in charge of the contract and why aren’t they ensuring all bins are collected?

Our little brown bin is walking to recycling itself.

M Boyle

Brockenhurst