RUBBISH COMPLAINTS - ONE PAYOUT STRETCHES CREDIBILITY OF SYSTEM

24.11.03

A Lib Dem councillor has labelled inadequate procedures to compensate residents for poor rubbish collection in Haringey. The move follow astonishing revelations at last week's full Council meeting, in a written answer to Lynne Featherstone, that just one single payment of £50 for poor service has been made in the past two years by Haringey's waste contractors (Accord) over their performance.

The Lib Dems says that the news will raise many eyebrows among incredulous residents, given a constant host of complaints over the performance of the refuse and street cleansing service. These include:

1. Inadequate provision for the clearance of autumn leaves

2. Rubbish collections not taking place on the scheduled days

3. Failure to deliver replacement wheelie bins to residents who have requested them within a reasonable period

4. Failure to return wheelie bins to the proper place

5. Poor street sweeping

Lib Dem councillor Lynne Featherstone (Muswell Hill) comments:

"It beggars belief that there has been just one single compensation payment for its services in the past two years. I can only conclude that the system may be stacked against residents, with little of the necessary pressure to encourage a better performance. I will be asking the Council to reconsider complaints procedures in refuse services to reflect the reality of the situation of the ground."

Comments?

If you have any comments on this story, please let me know in the space below, or you can email me at lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org