'Shambles' left town like a rubbish tip
THE waste collection service provided by Sita and Calderdale Council during last month's severe weather has been branded "a complete shambles" by town councillors.
Members of Todmorden town council's amenities committee criticised the disrupted service which led to piles of black bags building up outside homes as householders went weeks without a rubbish collection.
There were reports of rats in parts of the town and councillors received calls from residents saying rubbish had been collected from one side of their road but not the other.
Councillor John Rodgers said: "This town looked like a rubbish tip a couple of weeks ago.
"It has been cleared since but it was a complete shambles. I'm concerned that it could happen again."
Councillors would like to know what contingency plans have been put in place in case the snow and ice returns.
Councillor Hilary Myers said: "What we want is for them to tell us what they have learned and what they plan to do next time."
Councillor Joe Rez said: "There was no co-ordination between Sita, Calderdale Council and the outlying towns.
"We need to make sure this doesn't happen again and they need to have some sort of emergency system that collects the rubbish on a regular basis.
"It's not rocket science, it's just basic logistics."
Councillor Anne James said: "One Cornholme resident was told to take rubbish to the waste disposal station at Eastwood.
"How can people do that if they don't have their own transport?"
Councillr David O'Neill, who also represents Todmorden ward on Calderdale Council said: "People thought we knew what was going on and were hiding it from them but we didn't know what was happening.
"Calderdale ward councillors have been assured by Calderdale Council that if it happens again we will get updates by e-mail on gritting and refuse collection."
The town council sent a letter to Mark Thompson, Calderdale Council's head of housing and environment, stating its disappointment with the refuse collection service that was provided and requesting details of any contingency plans which are in place should bad weather return.
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Weather for Halifax
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: West
