Scaffolding Excuse 'Rubbish' As Bin And Recycling Collections Missed In Brighton Street For Weeks

Wednesday, 9 August 2023 10:09

By Sarah Booker-Lewis, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Rubbish and recycling collections have been missed for weeks in a street in Brighton, with the council blaming scaffolding, saying that it had caused access problems.

But residents dismissed it as "a rubbish excuse", saying that a garden waste lorry had been without any problems, while a councillor called for better planning and communication.

People living in Withdean Court Avenue, a cul-de-sac in Brighton, said that recycling had built up for more than a month while their other rubbish had not been collected for at least three weeks.

One of them, David Samartin, reported missed collections to Brighton and Hove City Council’s refuse and recycling department, Cityclean, but to no avail.

And as the rubbish piled up, the bins were attacked by gulls, foxes and rodents, adding to the mess in the street.

Mr Samartin said that the area suffered similar problems a year ago, with services eventually returning to normal.

The council said:

"We’re really sorry about the missed refuse and recycling collections at Withdean Court Avenue.

"We have had access issues there relating to scaffolding on the building. We are working to restore regular collections at this location as a matter of urgency."

But Mr Samartin said that the scaffolding was on a detached house, set back from the road, adding:

"I would like to respectfully disagree with the council as the garden waste truck makes it up our street every Thursday regardless of the scaffolding.

"In addition, the scaffolding is on one house on the street and it doesn’t hinder access. We had a fire engine and ambulance up our street a few nights ago without issue.

"Finally, many of the residents, including me, have written to Cityclean numerous times and there has never been a reason given for the missed collections. Their reason sounds like a rubbish excuse."

Conservative councillor Alistair McNair, who represents Patcham and Hollingbury, has taken up the complaint alongside his ward colleagues, Carol Theobald and Anne Meadows.

They have received complaints from several roads in the area where collections have been missed for three weeks or more.

Councillor McNair said:

"Surely the minute Cityclean knows there is an access issue, residents should be informed of the problem and a solution such as a rescheduled but imminent collection using a smaller vehicle.

"Scaffolding goes up all over the city all the time. It shouldn’t hinder the collection of rubbish and recycling beyond a matter of a couple of days to organise a change in delivery. It shouldn’t take weeks. And residents should be informed as soon as possible.

"Councillors Carol Theobald, Anne Meadows and I are glad Cityclean are now treating it as a matter of urgency.

"And I hope that a plan for dealing with foreseeable issues such as scaffolding can be implemented so residents no longer have to contact their councillors or the press to have their rubbish collected."