EAST Hampshire District Council has been slammed by Alton residents regarding the recent revisions in the refuse collection system.
A change in the refuse contractors used by the district to Onyx UK Limited, has heralded a reshuffle of the working specifications laid down by EHDC.
Arthur Blackham of Cavalier Way said: ÒThe directive came through the door in mid-September, stating that as from October 1, garden waste had not to be put into wheelie bins, but into a plastic bag, sold only by the council at a cost of 75 pence each.
ÒIt is my clear recollection that at the time the council was trying to persuade us to change from plastic bags to a large wheelie bin, which we had to pay for, the inducement was that we would be able to put garden waste in them. That is why we bought them.
ÒAlso, the charge of 75 pence per sack is extortionate, as plastic bags usually cost around 10 pence each. Since those bags can only be purchased from the council, it is another way of saying that a charge of 75 pence will be made for each bag collected.
ÒAlso, there is no mention in the diktat as to what size the bags will be, so there is no way of assessing the eventual cost.
ÒWe pay the council to remove our refuse through the rates. We should not have to pay for it again in the form of over-priced bags.Ó
Alison Fleming of Anstey Road also has complaints about the new refuse collection systems. She said: ÒI moved to this area from Andover last year which was by Test Valley Borough Council. Having found myself at the mercy of East Hampshire District Council, I realise now what an outstanding service they provided, or is it more the case that they provided a satisfactory service which EHDC fails abysmally to match?
ÒNot only did Test Valley provide me with a wheelie bin free of charge, but when their recycling rota was introduced, I received another two smaller wheelie bins, again, free of charge for these purposes. People were not asked to go out of their way to recycling points and were not put to any additional expense by way of purchasing these bins, let alone disposable plastic sacks.
ÒFurthermore, they were not expected to retain household waste for a two-week period before collection, which strikes me as particularly distasteful for those with young families such as myself.
Mr Blackham also adds that there was another surprise waiting for him when he wanted to make his complaints known. ÒThe directive was so worded as to stop objectors from contacting their elected representative but to direct their complaints to the magistrates court in Aldershot.
ÒWhat it did not say is that the magistrates would charge £7 for the privilege of complaining, with a threat that complainants would be saddled with the costs of litigation if their appeal was lost. Council officials would of course have the benefit of sack loads of taxpayersÕ money if they lost, whereas objectors would have to pay out of their own pockets.
ÒI am appalled at the way the council is doing business. It seems that now the only way to approach our elected council is through magistrates and lawyers, itÕs as though we were living in a dictatorship.Ó