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Uncollected rubbish raises a real stink

blackmorevaleOctober 8, 20210 Comment0

This is the pile of uncollected refuse at Templecombe Recreation Ground, which has been rotting in black plastic refuse bags for six weeks.

The photograph was sent in by Helen Coombes who contacted the Environmental Health department at South Somerset District Council last week, but as yet has not received a response.

At the time of going to press the rubbish was still there. Helen said: “I understand that a number of complaints have been raised to both district and parish councils, but no one seems to be able to get this rubbish collected. The rubbish, including waste from the dog bins has now been there for at least six weeks. The smell is terrible, and is a health issue, as well as possibly attracting rats.”

The rubbish had been collected by South Somerset Waste Partnership until collections were moved to three-weekly at the beginning of the summer. Since then the rubbish at the entrance to the recreation ground has been collected just once, much to the dismay of Abbas and Templecombe Parish Council, who immediately contacted South Somerset District Council for answers.

Chairman of Abbas and Templecombe Parish Council Robin Cave said: “In late August, we were told that the Waste Partnership should not have been collecting the waste. Since then we have been negotiating with private contractor Biffa to start regular waste collections. The process has been remarkably difficult and has proved exasperating. Quite rightly we have received complaints from residents as the rubbish continues to grow and more people are using the recreation ground for fresh air.”

Mr Cave told the New Blackmore Vale that the process for private collections by Biffa had been completed. In the meantime, a one-off collection by McCarthy Marland had been arranged.

A South Somerset District Council spokesman said: “We will look into this matter and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”