I went to the tip last Monday at about 11.00am and was gobsmacked. In previous visits even at the weekend, I've been able to get in and out of the tip in a matter of ten to fifteen minutes.
Given it was a work day and overcast, I was astounded to find myself not only queuing back out onto the road, but when I finally got through the entrance, realising that I was part of what must have been well over 100 cars parked in the kind of rows you normally see before entering a cross-channel ferry. Absolutely astounding numbers.
Come the proper warm weather, the system will simply grind to a halt as Morsey says.
And what will that result in? The obvious. Fly-tipping in the back alleys, cut-throughs, at the sides of the road or in the surrounding countryside by the less social residents of the town; dumping which will either completely scupper the attempt of the council to improve the image and brand of the town OR which will cost far more than the cost of organised collection to clear away....
SBC SNAFU
Tig and I have made 3 unsuccessful attempts to visit the 'recycling' centre in the last 5 days. On each attempt the traffic queue began at the Mini Roundabout at the end of Darby Close and, (presumably like many other people who simply turned around and drove away), I had neither the time or inclination to do my environmental or civic duty.
After 3 attempts which approximate to 18 road miles I sent the entire consignment to landfill via other means which I've
also already paid for. I expect a proportion of other people will, by now, have fly-tipped their loads. Once people realise that it's easier and quicker to either fly-tip or cram their re-cyclables into their wheelie bins than to bother even
attempting to visit the Cheney Manor site, then the whole system, and
the point of the whole system, has been royally screwed up hasn't it?
Another epic and ongoing failure from SBC, and which Tory muppet is responsible for this one?
Cllr Richard HurleyApparently Richard has some experience as a catering manager, but putting the black bin bags in the Biffa Bin doesn't seem to have equipped him for his portfolio responsibilities which include:
Councillor Richard Hurley Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Housing and Streetsmart (Delivery)
Ward: Covingham and Dorcan
Portfolio Responsibilities:
Police Authority/Police and Crime Commissioner liaison
Community Safety Partnership
Environmental and Public Protection Services
Gypsies, Travellers and Unauthorised Encampments
Reducing Drugs, Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Allocations and Advice Services
Empty Homes
Estate and Tenancy Management
Housing Enabling and Strategic Services
Homeline Services
Homelessness
Housing Right to Buy/Sales Services
Neighbourhood Wardens
Private Sector Housing Renovation Grants
Repair and Improvements to Council Housing Stock
Sheltered Accommodation
Streetsmart (delivery)
Public Toilets,
Waste Disposal / Waste Minimisation
Recycling
Refuse Collection – Domestic & Trade
Cemeteries & Crematoria.
Ground & Tree Maintenance and open spaces
Removal of graffiti and abandoned vehicles
Parks
Playgrounds, including those that are not presently utilised.
It will be worth monitoring how many other areas/sevices which come under Cllr Hurley's 'control' will also start grinding to a halt. Perhaps if he paid as much attention to the rest of the Borough as he does to his own conservatory he'd be aware that more things are rotten in this borough than whatever has been recently thrown at his sun room .....
