York council missed bin collection apology to Groves homes

General waste and recycling bins were left uncollected in The Groves from Tuesday, August 11 after gas works cut off access for City of York Council rubbish collection crews.

Stephanie Holdsworth, who lives in Diamond Street, said the rubbish had started to smell and accused the council of ignoring a growing health hazard.

Ian Hoult, the council’s environmental services lead, apologised to affected residents and said crews would collect the waste as soon as possible.

It comes as Mrs Holdsworth and other residents said the issue began with the council missing recycling collections on Tuesday, August 11 and the general waste round the following week (Tuesday, August 18).

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She added Diamond Street, Emerald Street and Earle Street were among those affected and the council had not attempted to collect the rubbish despite several calls from residents.

Waste remained uncollected as of Monday, August 23.

The Diamond Street resident said: “The council have not collected anything or even attempted it and now the big bags and bins are starting to smell as bags are scratched open by animals and they’re getting infested with flies, even though the residents have all tried their very best to keep things safe and tidy.

Uncollected bins and rubbish in The Groves, York. Picture is from Stephanie Holdsworth, available for all LDRS partners to use.

“The council simply doesn’t and are quite happy to ignore a health hazard in our streets as it’s not a very prestigious area of York.

“We all suspect that the council is simply leaving the collection until the next scheduled date, effectively leaving us with only one bins and recycling collection a month and the residents just have to lump it.”

Another Groves resident, who asked not to be named, said people who get assisted collections and only use bin bags were particularly affected by bad smells.

They said: “They are bring ripped apart by vermin and are littering the streets.

“The council do not seem to care even when it is reported to them.”

Uncollected bins and rubbish in The Groves, York. Picture is from Stephanie Holdsworth, available for all LDRS partners to use.

Mr Hoult said the gas works which had now been completed had made it difficult for crews to access the streets.

He said: “We apologise for any inconvenience that residents in the area have experienced.

“Our crews will be attending these properties as soon as possible to carry out the delayed collections.”