North Lanarkshire Council- No Respect for Personal Privacy or Public Welfare

Friday is bin collection day and as usual the NLC officials have done themselves proud.

This morning a neighbour had an interview regarding an ‘Assisted Pull-out’. Unfortunately she was having work done in her garden and the NLC officials couldn’t get up her path. So they decided to conduct her personal interview in the open from a distance of 6yards away. The lady stood at her door and the NLC officials decided that discussing her personal information for all to hear was acceptable. The conversation was heard from our bedroom window some 20 yards away. They then capped their unprofessional behaviour by questioning her suitability by saying “Well my mother can do it.”.

When was it ever all right to medically assess someone based on some stranger’s mother? This is not a criteria for assessment.  I have asked for a copy of the criteria and was told there wasn’t any so it seems they can make it up as they go.  This is sickening.  Who in heavens name do these people think they are? They have no medical qualifications, no health risk assessment training and no right to medically assess the health needs of a member of the public. I was given assurances from Mr Harry Morgan that his staff would not carry out such assessments. However, I have learned to take anything that NLC officials say with a very large pinch of salt – even though it is supposed to be bad for blood pressure.

I have seen a copy of the risk assessments that these professionals have used to determine the change in service and to be perfectly honest they are pathetic.  Here is an example of when the risk of manoeuvring the wheeled bin is too high for NLC employees and the answer is to …Get the residents to do it…

To make things worse when these NLC officials left they walked past and ignored the blocked pathway where the bin men had abandoned the empty bins across the path. It was down to a visiting contractor to move the bins so he could have access to the pathway.  Again this is a blatant disregard after the assurances that I was given would never happen. They have been told and told and told again.  Are we waiting for an accident or do they just not care?  How are disabled, elderly or even kids going to manoeuvre past these bins?  My personal view is that I think they just don’t care and don’t respect the public.  Mind you NLC officials managed to miss them so perhaps they are invisible and only the public can see them.

Blocked Path

I have said it before and I will say it again – These people are Public Servants. It is time to make them serve the public.

Resident’s Self-Assessment Wheelie Bin Risk Determination Form.

Resident’s Self-Assessment Wheelie Bin Risk Determination Form.
Important Note: This information has not been endorsed by North Lanarkshire Council or the Community Council – Therefore is for information only in order to aid you in determining whether there are any restrictions that you need to consider when taking your wheelie bin to the communal collection point. It does not constitute an official request nor an suitable and sufficient risk assessment.

The assessment covers the four main areas of a Manual Handling Risk Assessment as laid down in the HSE guidelines – Task, Load, Environment and Individual Capabilities. I have also taken account of the psychosocial aspects of the task involved. Please answer each question as honestly and as accurately as possible.

Taking a wheeled bin from its existing storage point to the new communal collection point
The Task
Is the route Greater than 15m?
Is the route clear of obstacles?
Does the Task involve negotiating Kerbs?
Does the Task involve negotiating Steps?
Does the Task involve negotiating Slopes
Is the Wheeled Bin Maintained?
Does the Task require a lot of effort to get the load moving or keeping it moving?
Are there sudden or jerking movements to start or stop the load?
Are there any One Handed Operations?
Is there repetitive Pushing and Pulling?

The Load
Is the Load Heavy?
Is the Load Stable and Secure?
Can you see over the Load at all times?
Are there good handholds?

The Environment
Is weather a factor?
Does the Task take place in windy locations where the Load may become unstable?
Is lighting adequate?
Are there constraints on body posturing/positioning?
Are there confined spaces or narrow doorways/walkways?
Are there surfaces or edges that could cut or cause abrasions to your hands?
Is there a danger of rolling the load over feet or ankles (own or passers-by)?
Are there any rutted/damaged/or slippery walkways?
Are there any tripping hazards?

Individual Capabilities
Do you have any musculoskeletal conditions (aches or pains) that may be aggravated?
Do you have a particular health problem that may affect your ability to perform the task?
Are you on any medication that may affect your ability to safely present your wheeled bin at the communal presentation point?
Have you had specific information/training in performing the task?

The Equipment
Is your wheeled Bin fit for purpose – is it suited to your specific needs?
Are the wheels suitable enough to minimise rolling resistance?
Is the handle positioned between your waist and shoulder height?
Are the handle grips in good order and comfortable?
Is movement hindered by clothing?

Psychosocial Factors
Do you feel that there has been a lack of consideration given to the planning and implementation of the changes?
Do you feel that there has been insufficient communications between yourself and North Lanarkshire Council?
Has any consideration been given or issued regarding seasonal changes and their effects on the task?
Do you feel that you are physically able to carry out this task?
Do you feel that you have had sufficient information and training in order to carry out this task successfully?
Do you fear that by performing this task that you are in danger of harming or injuring yourself?

 

Complaints Against NLC.

You can request from North Lanarkshire Council an ‘Assisted Pull-Out Service’ if you feel that your health may be at risk from taking your wheelie bin to and from the communal collection Point of Presentation.  If they refuse then you can use the internal complaints procedure against NLC. If you are unhappy with the results of your complaint then you can go to the Ombudsman.  NLC have a Duty of Care to you as a member of the public not to put your health at risk.  Likewise they also have a legal duty to collect your household waste.  This duty is underlined within your Council Tax.  Failure to collect your waste is a Delict and therefore you are entitled to raise a summary warrant against the perpetrator through the Small Claims Court.

No one has the right to cause you injury or harm so if you feel that you are at risk then do not accept the risk.  I have been reliably informed that NLC are working on the risks assessments associated with the collection of wheelie bins in Westfield but a solution will take time.  Therefore inform NLC of any potential harm that accepting the new system will do to you.   Hopefully NLC Waste Management Services will ensure your continued health, safety and welfare and revert back to the old system before someone gets hurt or they are faced with expensive litigation.

Only you can fight your corner.

Again I reiterate – this posting is for information only and does not constitute advice.  Its author can take no responsibility for any outcome whatsoever as a result of following this advice.

Without Prejudice

 

Does Deersdyke Stink?

There is no doubt about it – the composting plant at Deersdyke is responsible for the noxious smell that has engulfed our community. This pungent smell is affecting local businesses and the residential community alike. We thought the disused sewage plant that occupied the site until 2003 was bad enough but over the past few months the smell from the Scottish Water plant at Deersdyke has become intolerable. In fact over the past couple, of months I have received several complaints from residents and businesses within the Westfield area asking what can be done. At times the smell is so bad that residents cannot hang out their clothes to dry or enjoy a family barbecue on the rare days when the sun decides to shine. Instead, choosing to remain indoors and use their tumble dryers for fear of vomiting. This smell is unacceptable and therefore I contacted Donald McBrayne (waste services manager at the plant) to find out what exactly was the problem and more importantly what he was doing about it.

I had a meeting with Mr McBrayne this afternoon and Councillor O’Brien was in attendance, as he has also received several complaints as well. The meeting went well and Mr McBrayne acknowledge that there is a smell from the composting process but he also said that his organisation were investing £7,000,000 in the development of an Anaerobic Digester and that this should be fully operational by April 2010. Hopefully this should reduce the smell significantly.

Just to give you some background and what Mr McBrayne didn’t say. I should point out that I am not an expert but this is how I understand it. There are two methods in which composting takes place. One is Aerobic which involves aerating and this is usually what you would do with your compost bin at home. You would turn it over and allow oxygen to aid the process. When done properly there is a lower smell from this type of operation but is not really feasible with large units like the Deersdyke facility. It also creates a greater dust pollution which in my opinion is much more hazardous to our health. Therefore the Deersdyke facility has chosen to go down the Anaerobic route which has an increased odour control problem but is both commercially and environmentally superior to the aerobic method. However, Mr McBrayne mentioned his £7,000,000 investment that will enclose the Anaerobic composting and therefore reduce the problem of the smell. In other words because it is closed the smell will be filtered. Hope that makes sense?

There are additional factors that have exacerbated the problem of the smell and these are not the fault of the Deersdyke facility. The rape of our landscape for the A80 upgrade with the removal of the trees has channelled the normally diluted smell to reach our residential area and this coupled with the seasonal nature of green waste and hot an humid weather have all added to the problem. Hopefully the A80 will be replanted and the Anaerobic Digester is operational then the smell will return to an acceptable level. The Anaerobic Digester will be operational by April next year.

The Deersdyke plant has many environmental and social advantages to offer the businesses and residents within Westfield area and as such we should give the proposed improvements a chance to prove themselves. However, people and businesses cannot be expected to put up long term with this noxious smell so even though Deersdyke facility has Local, National and European support on their environmental issues, if the Anaerobic Digester and other methods we discussed today fail to reduce the smell to an acceptable level then we will put pressure on SEPA to revoke their license.

There are laws with regards to odours and these are enforced by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency but at this point in time the management at the Deersdyke facility are compliant. In other words they are operating within their license but, as I interpret it, only because they are investing in the methods highlighted above. If these methods fail then I would strongly recommend that complaints be made to SEPA.

• SEPA’s Pollution Hotline – 0800 80 70 60 – available 24/7
  

We will be watching and waiting and normally I would say don’t hold your breath but in this case I would suggest that you do or at least when passing the Deersdyke facility.

Your comments are always welcome.

 

What is the definition of a Lie?

I don’t know about you but I hate being lied to, especially when all it takes is a phone call or an email to check out the validity of the information. I have now got to the point of when dealing with NLC management that I check out every single claim they make. I have better things to do with my time but these guys cannot be allowed to get away with their lies and deceit any more. Surely someone must be able to hold them to account?

So what am I on about now? At a meeting of the Community Council, pre-wheelie bins, three members of NLC management and supervisory staff claimed that one of the reasons the wheelie bins had to be introduced was the unacceptable number of needlestick injuries and stabbings from objects piercing black bags. According to the NLC representatives there were several cases of injuries to cleansing operatives in Westfield alone. When questioned they hummed and hawed and reduced the number to two or three occasions that these specific accidents occurred. So knowing the gentlemen concerned I decided to check their claims. Not that I don’t trust them but I don’t believe a word that comes out of any of their mouths. I therefore requested, under the Freedom of Information Act, the actual numbers of needlestick and stabbing injuries in Westfield. The answer, a BIG FAT ZERO. Between Jan 2008 and Dec 2008 no cleansing operatives were injured as a result of needles or metal objects sticking out of black bags in Westfield or Eastfield at all. I did ask for dates from 2000 until present but I have had to request again for those dates.

The problem with lying is that on the rare occasion that they might be telling the truth we won’t believe them. A few weeks back two NLC Supervisors produced a photograph of a black bag with a six inch blade sticking out of it and claimed that this was picked up in Westfield and it had caused an NLC employee to be stabbed as a result. Was it real or was it staged? At this point in time I don’t know, I doubt if it was real, but what I do know for certain is that NLC have completely destroyed any trust I had in their claims so untilI see the actual reportable statistics I won’t believe them.

The definition of a lie –

Noun

1. an untrue statement deliberately used to mislead

2. something that is deliberately intended to deceive

 

At some point in the future NLC will want the support of our community and going by their record it won’t be easy earned.

Just a Little Breeze

It’s a lovely day outside with just a light wind. So you can imagine how vindicated I felt when I heard a clatter from my neighbours front door. I got up and looked out to see that their small Grey Bin lying across the pathway. The breeze came from the wrong direction and because it was empty it blew over. What would have happened if it was dark and the middle of the night? My neighbours are pensioners and they do not have rear access to their garden. Should the worst happen and they have a fire, their only route for escape is through the front of their house. If God is on their side they will escape but as NLC are not they will trip over the fallen bin, just because there was a light breeze.

Therefore in order to ensure their protection I have recommended that they enrol at Broadwood Stadium for hurdling training.

I wonder what Strathclyde Fire Brigade would make of this?

Public Meeting Follow-up

Last night’s meeting was more like an exercise in ‘How to Avoid Questions’ than a public meeting. I never heard a full nor a straight answer to a single point that was raised. For 5 years I have been asking North Lanarkshire Council about how they will operate their wheelie bin service in Westfield and how they can ensure that it will consider the specific needs of the area. Their response has always been the same – “Recycling for Good” – misdirection. Then last night when the people of Westfield asked the same questions, NLC representatives still failed to answer them. Last nigh a question was asked of Mr Ken Wilson –”What is more important Recycling for Good as it is implemented in Westfield and Eastfield or Health and Safety for the residents.” This was a straight and simple question that Mr Ken Wilson again failed to answer. Then later on he mentioned that he was faced with the responsibility to his employees for their health and safety and that bagged waste had proven to be a particular problem with stabbing and other puncture related hazards. Unfortunately the Chair, in my opinion, was stifling communications by taking triple questions and allowing Mr Ken Wilson to continue his usual avoidance tactics. If we had been allowed to interact properly with Mr Ken Wilson I would have brought up the unsafe and foul practice I witnessed yesterday afternoon. A neighbour of mine, who already possesses a wheeled bin, requested a smaller version. The delivery operative from cleansing arrived and hand emptied her existing flimsy bin liner bagged waste with his bare hands. If Mr Ken Wilson is so strong on health and safety then why did his employee consider that handling unknown waste with his bare hands then driving off with contaminated hands think that that was a safe practice?

Following yesterday’s meeting I decided to observe the practices of the cleansing operatives. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a grip with the bin men but I am concerned if they are working in an unsafe manner. Especially when that unsafe manner is seemingly condoned by the very management that tell the good people of Westfield that they are looking after his employees health and safety.

This morning saw a grey bin being emptied by hand, see comments, and I watched as the Blue Bins were collected. None of the guys were wearing gloves, none of the guys were wearing HSE recommended work wear and none of the guys stood far enough away from the operating mechanism at the rear of the vehicle. All this was watched by their supervisor. These are basic infringements of health and safety legislation and made worse by the fact that the supervisor was complicit.

This is apparently Mr Ken Wilson’s attempt at looking after his employees health and safety. If he was at all interested in health and safety then he would have read the HSE report into Refuse collection where they are perfectly clear that in areas that are unsuitable for wheeled bins then bagged waste collection is safer.

The Health and Safety Executive report [http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/hsl_pdf/2002/hsl02-21.pdf ] stated:

Where use of wheelie bins is impractical, collection of bags is likely to continue unless bulk collection facilities can be implemented. In these circumstances recycling should be encouraged by the provision of green bins and bags. {Bold mine}

 

The same report goes on:

When moving any size of bin the refuse collectors should:

1. Ensure there is sufficient space to manoeuvre the bin by moving surrounding obstacles, opening doors, etc.
   
2. Try to avoid pushing or pulling the bin across obstacles such as steps and kerbs.
   
3. Seek assistance when having trouble moving a bin – particularly if moving it up or down a slope or kerb or step.

    

Refuse collectors should be provided with effective PPE for their hands and legs.

This would not only help reduce the risk of lacerations, infections and disease but it may also enable refuse collectors to grip, hold and carry refuse in optimal ways, i.e., held in a balanced way and not held so far away from the legs.

We all recognise that there are hazards in both methods of service. However, if Mr Wilson or his colleagues had carried out a ‘Suitable and Sufficient’ risk assessment of the Westfield and Eastfield areas, or even read their own 1998 report, then they would realise that the area is still unsuitable for wheeled bins.

Their blanket solution is not the answer and health and safety is not an excuse for failing to address the problems.

Now we come to the matter of the facts as they were portrayed by Mr Ken Wilson at last night’s meeting.

Mr Wilson stated that if a resident had their bin stolen then it would be replaced free of charge by NLC. Then why does NLC’s own website charge a fee? Are we talking about his lack of knowledge of his service provision or is this another example where the true facts have yet again been skewed to fit a speech? Below is an extract from NLC’s website.

www.northlan.gov.uk Cleansing Services

Once supplied the wheeled bins become the property of the occupier of the property with the responsibility for its replacement in the event of theft or acts of vandalism etc being that of the owner or occupier of the property. For rented properties the responsibility may rest with the Landlord, confirmation of arrangements in such cases should be checked prior to any requests being made to us.

140 litre	new	£33.13	second hand	£24.85
240 litre	new	£38.85	second hand	£29.14
360 litre	new	£57.28	second hand	£42.95
660 litre	new	£268.76	second hand	£201.57
1100 litre	new	£267.54	second hand	£200.66

Note: Second hand bins not always available

Trade-in allowance – dependant on condition of bin – 50%

So what next? Well having looked at the statistics that NLC have produced to back their case I am concerned at either their incompetence or their attempt to mislead the people and our elected official. Therefore we will be seeking a public enquiry into what appears to be the disrespect, lies and thug tactics employed by NLC management and their employees.

If it is found that anyone in NLC has lied or is complicit in their purposeful attempt at duping the public then the least we can expect is an immediate termination of their employment. Everyone within NLC who is guilty of such cross misconduct perpetrated to meet their collective agenda should be sacked, irrespective of their position.

On a different note: It was great to hear that Councillor Chadha is on our side, considering that he is part of the same labour group, as is Councillor McCulloch, who voted unanimously for the introduction of a wheeled bin service in Westfield and Eastfield. Oh well as Councillor Chadha says, I don’t understand how the politics work. Perhaps not but I do understand how the introduction of a wheeled bin service affects the people of Westfield, which is more than NLC or the Labour Group do.

Have we all fallen down a rabbit hole?

I received a copy of an email that Ken Wilson sent to Councillor O’Brien, who seems to be the only councillor who is doing anything to resolve this the problem of wheelie bins. Anyway, the last paragraph of the email is copied below and for the life of me, I am struggling because someone isn’t living in the real world. Perhaps it is us lowly peasants who are all wrong, or perhaps it is the NLC official who are deluding themselves into believing their own Jackanory statistics.

Extract from Ken Wilson’s email:

“… In relation to the 27 households in Westfield that are currently dissatisfied with their blue bin, this matter will be addressed shortly and further attempts will be made to contact the 9 outstanding households which have requested the removal of their blue bin to clarify their position…”

So according to these statistics, in the whole of Westfield, there are only 27 who are dissatisfied and just 9 who want them taken away. Of course when it comes to statistics we all believe North Lanarkshire Council, don’t we? It’s not that they tell fibs to get their own way is it? It’s not that they treat our elected officials with total disregard is it? Ask any one of them, from any political party, about wheelie bins and see if they believe the NLC figures that there is 27 ‘dissatisfied’ people in Westfield.

Me thinks we are getting the Bums Rush again!

If you are not happy then for goodness sake complain in writing and send a copy to the Community Council. Rose Cadden is the secretary her email is :

rosecadd1.wcc@blueyonder.co.uk

 

 

Official Complaint Procedure

If you are unhappy at the lies, guile, service or behaviour of NLC employees then I have been advised that the official complaints procedure is the way forward. If you have been landed with an unwanted wheeled bin then a letter to NLC Environmental Services Department demanding its immediate uplift is required. According to the Environmental Services report of 27^th February Mr Barry McCulloch approved the implementation of the programme. However, within the report of the committee it clearly states that residents have a choice. Therefore, we do not need to accept wheeled bins. It does also mean that recycling duties may fall on us for our decision but personally that is something I already do and I know that you do also.

Telephone Chief Executives office and ask for a copy of their Complaints Procedures to be posted to you. The telephone number is: 01698 302718

To have their wheeled bin taken back contact:

Customer Services Assistants
NorthLine Environmental
52-60 Merry Street – Motherwell – ML1 1LZ
01698 403110
environmental@northlan.gov.uk

Below is an extract from the Minutes, Agendas and Reports from North Lanarkshire Council’s Environmental Committee which Councillor Barry McCulloch is part of. It was this committee that approved Ken Wilson’s Report.

****** ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES COMMITTEE 27 February 2008 Agenda item 7 ******

3 Proposals/Considerations [Bold mine]

3.1 In devising the resubmission to the Scottish Government, the Department took advice from Remade at Caledonian University on the best fit of proposals that would work within the North Lanarkshire environment and housing types. It was clear from this consultation that there would need to be a tailored approach to implementing schemes with no “one size fits all” being possible. The proposals therefore identified ways of providing all residents with the means of participating in recycling by providing appropriate facilities whilst at the same time ensuring best value.

3.4.4 Appropriate property surveys have now been completed throughout the Authority and having identified properties where it is impractical to provide this service, alternatives will be provided …

3.4.6.6 Recycling Containers will be made freely available to those householders who have up to now decided not to participate in the schemes. It should be noted that no additional (residual) collections can be provided to any resident who chooses not to participate during the recycling week but every effort will be made through educational and advisory methods to encourage participation

As you can see NLC failed to acknowledge previous findings that Westfield Cumbernauld was considered impractical for wheeled bin implementation. I refer to MSP Hugh O’Donnell’s letter.

The Fight is Not Over Yet!

Well wheelie bins were issued this morning in the lower part of Westfield.

This fight is not over. A public meeting is to be held within the Community Halls in Westfield on Monday 6^th April 2009 at 7.30pm. I would advise that you attend. Hopefully I will have discovered who has backed this and who has stayed silent.

I have contacted Cathie Craigie’s office and they say that she is 100% behind the residents of Westfield in her opposition to wheeled bins. She has asked for a meeting with NLC. I also spoke to her administrative assistant and she informed me that NLC told Councillor Chadha that the issue of wheeled bins would not be going ahead until after NLC had met with our elected officials. Well guess who is telling porkies again?

I have also contacted Allan O’Brien who was an unhappy man this morning and has arranged a meeting with NLC officials for later this week.

I am still waiting for Councillor McCulloch to respond on this issue, I just wonder what his silence means?

I appreciate the support from our elected members but I want to see some action.

It doesn’t take Einstein to realise that Wheelie bins are not the answer in Westfield but NLC are Hell bent on imposing them, so much so that they will stoop to deplorable depths of dishonesty and guile. If recycling was the issue then I am positive that we could have sat round a table and come up with a workable solution. But no, NLC want everything their own way and stuff the local residents. Now, normally I would be campaigning for the heads of our elected members but at present I do not know who has backed this initiative. I have been told that it was unanimously supported by the ruling group within the council. I have therefore written to Councillor McCulloch, who so far has been silent on this matter, to let me know before the public meeting. I do sincerely hope that it is only the unelected jobsworths employed within NLC and their senior management that are behind this situation. However, when I find out I will let you know.

I spoke to :o) the NLC employees who were issued with orders last week to deliver these bins to our houses and they told me that the grey ones are also being delivered. What I would love to know is – Who is in Charge here? NLC have again misled our councillors and also misled our MSPs. I will also be contacting the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman for their advice.

Not Everyone Is Opposed

We have had a comment from LM who is in favour of Wheeled Bins and I thank them for that and I can fully understand their position. We know and accept that there are a few households in Westfield where the use of wheeled bins is perfectly acceptable. They have the storage and the point of presentation. In fact when NLC asked if they could survey the residents and seek permission, the Community Council had no objections as long as NLC did two small things:

1. Operated their service as stated within their procedures and policies. Having two or three bins in each street is not a problem as long as NLC return them to the point of presentation and that they do not block paths or walkways. Unfortunately NLC have never managed to do this but instead abandon the bins causing potential hazards to our children, pensioners and disabled residents. NLC operatives have consistently left the bins at the path edge and in our car parks. Almost every area in Westfield is a grassed cul-de-sac so they don’t have kerbsides. Just taking as an example the problems for our children, kids walking to school have to manoeuvre around these abandoned bins and cannot see or be seen by vehicles entering or leaving our car parks. Delivery vans not aware of the problem are suddenly faced with bins as they round a corner so swerve to avoid it. Unfortunately they don’t see the child, or the pensioner, or any pedestrian as they have no choice but to walk through the assembled barrage and across the car park. Fortunately we have not had an accident yet but we only have a small number of bins per street. Imagine what the path ends or the car park would look like with 30 assembled waiting to be emptied or collected at the end of the day. The only point of presentation that is possible for the majority is the end of our front paths as anywhere else will affect public safety. This issue is already identified in Safer Pathways on NLC’s own website. They know there is a problem and they know that they don’t have a suitable answer that does not compromise the safety and security of our residents. However, if you read their policies and procedures, once you have accepted a wheeled bin then the responsibility for safety of the residents falls on you. They can abandon it anywhere they like but if an accident should happen because it is your bin it is your responsibility. Even if someone steals it, it will cost you £60+ to replace it. Why do you think that they are pursuing this issue so aggressively?

    

2. The second issue that we requested they solve is – Where do people who don’t have anywhere to store the bins, store them? It is ok for some in Westfield as they have a place to store a wheeled bin and perhaps two. But not everyone has. Eleven years ago Westfield Community Council, MSPs, Councillors and NLC officials walked round Westfield looking at this very problem. The conclusion was that Westfield was unsuitable for wheeled bins. (see MSP Hugh O’Donnell’s letter to Gavin Whitefield NLC Chief Exec. in the comments field). So what has changed? Nothing. Westfield is unsuitable for wheeled bins and no amount of lying, cajoling, bullying or harassment can change that.

I’ll be frank, yes some of us do have a place to put one or two bins so our main concern is the return to point presentation (point 1 mentioned above). However, there are a lot of householders who don’t have anywhere to put even one wheeled bin. Therefore should NLC be allowed to foist their ill thought out solution on these people?

When it comes to recycling then almost every person in Westfield is strongly in favour of it. That is why the majority of us, who can, trundle to Wardpark on a regular basis. But wheeled bins are not the solution. Not when they create such significant risk and distress to many of the residents of Westfield. Westfield Community Council have long been supporters of recycling. We recognised that there was a problem for those who couldn’t get to Wardpark which is why the recycling bins were placed in the small car park next to the shop. Unfortunately, they lasted five minutes before vandals set fire to them and NLC removed them. We support the recycling unit being built in Westfield Industrial Estate. We have supported garden uplifts for years right up until NLC decided that it wanted to stop it. NLC introduced a recycling service a few years back and failed to pick up the bags and boxes. They blamed the contractor but NLC were in charge, or should have been. This is not a recycling issue. This is an issue that affects the health and wellbeing of our residents. This is an issue of fortnightly uplifts with nowhere to safely store the decomposing waste. This is an issue of attracting vermin into our kitchens and gardens. This is an issue of dragging two week old filthy waste through our homes. This is an issue that affects us all.

Am I being melodramatic? Make up your own mind but first check out the following articles:

In the Sun Newspaper – The UK is facing an epidemic of RATS of plague proportions. Edinburgh is already being hit by a sevenfold increase and overflowing bins are being highlighted as the main cause.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article757835.ece accessed 23rd March 2009

 

Daily Record 29^th September 2008 – SCOTLAND’S capital is in the grip of a rat epidemic – with pest controllers reporting a seven-fold rise in callouts.
Experts blame overflowing bins caused by a decrease in collections and they say Edinburgh’s rat population could spiral out of control.

 

Or the 21^st Century Plague spread by Rat Fleas. – Bacteria that can cause serious heart disease in humans are being spread by rat fleas, sparking concern that the infections could become a bigger problem in humans. Research published in the December issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology suggests that brown rats, the biggest and most common rats in Europe, may now be carrying the bacteria.

                    http://current.com/items/89558279/scientists_discover_21st_century_plague.htm accessed 23rd March 2009

Wheeled Bins are not a new issue. This is a long standing concern hat NLC refuses to address. Many, reading this will know that it has already been directly linked to the death of Councillor Coombe. In fact when I recently mentioned it to Mr H Frew of NLC his comment was that Councillor Coombe had heart troubles anyway. So if you are ill, young, old or weak then NLC don’t seem to give a damn. NLC know the depth of feeling about this and yet they also try to cloud the issue by claiming it is a cost saving, or an environmental, or a moral, or whatever invalid reasons they can muster. Then when that doesn’t make an impression they make up false figures and expect the good people of Westfield to accept them. 

LM mentioned in their comments about the statistics and data that I referred to in my last posting as perhaps being wrong. Their comment was that perhaps NLC were using data collected during the wheeled bin request letter from last year. The only thing I can say is that, no it doesn’t. Councillor Chadha knocked on doors yesterday to validate the NLC figures as he needed proof that NLC had tried to dupe him. He now has that proof. However, it doesn’t help their case when NLC employees can’t even count the houses correctly. The data I referred to was a spreadsheet that was sent to Councillor Chadha following our complaint at the disrespect portrayed by Mr K Wilson’s men under the supervision of Mr H Frew.

NLC have destroyed our trust and they have lied to elected officials. So I thank LM for their comments and I would love to say that NLC had behaved impeccably in their dealings with the residents of Westfield but I cannot. LM’s experiences with NLC have been positive and therefore valid but I do believe they are in a minority.

This is not something that can be taken lightly. NLC need to know that the introduction of Wheeled Bins into Westfield is unworkable and compromises the health and wellbeing of the residents. Do not accept their protestations and false claims. Get out and make your voice heard. We hope to have a public meeting on this but please do not let this slide, otherwise we will all pay the price.