Bin collections suspended (From Leigh Journal)

Bin collections suspended

2:18pm Wednesday 23rd December 2009 in

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ICY conditions prompted Wigan Council to suspend bin collections this week as freezing conditions left side streets and backroads in a treachorous state.

But the waste collection team has reassured people that staff will be working hard to deal with any backlog of waste and have promised missed bins will be taken on the next scheduled collection round.

The authority urged people to leave their cars at home unless absolutely necessary.

A spokesman said: "Unfortunately, like most local authorities, we can't grit minor roads.

"But the teams have been working hard to keep the little residential salt boxes filled with supplies."

Wigan Council’s Cabinet Champion for the Environment, Cllr David Molyneux, said: “Like many areas across the country we are experiencing a prolonged period of freezing weather which is making it potentially hazardous for our bin lorries to get down residential streets.

“We have asked residents to please bear with us and they have done so. We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding and we are doing all we can under difficult circumstances.”

Excess rubbish should be placed in bags and left next to their bin ready for the next collection.

Meanwhile cleansing staff have been gritting town centre pavements.

The council’s fleet of 11 gritting vehicles were fitted with snow ploughs during the height of the bad weather.

Cllr Molyneux explained: “Where possible we have deployed staff to undertake other duties such as manual gritting but people must remember that council workers are suffering from the same problems as everyone else due to bad weather and that can include getting to work.

“We appreciate it is frustrating but we are doing our very best and we urge everyone to check for regular updates.”