Welcome to Charlbury

Thu 10 Dec 2009, 13:18

Just to say that I have contacted WODC (again !!) and the container for cardboard which has a broken lid will be replaced next week. On inspection it looks as if it has wrenched off its hinges with some force---vandalism ??

Mon 7 Dec 2009, 10:35

The fact that the council department responsible for this shambles is called "Street Scene" tells you everything you need to know about its inefficiency. How many council meetings and tens of thousands of pounds did it take before some bright spark in an advertising agency came up with that Blairite obscenity? If it was renamed "Waste Disposal" (which, after all, is what it is) then perhaps that would concentrate minds with regard to what it is supposed to do. Street Scene sounds more like a community-sponsored inner-city rap project than an efficient council department!

Sun 6 Dec 2009, 21:55

How about scooping the next lot up and dumping it on the Leader of the Councils doorstep? That sort of tactic tends to get one noticed in my very very long experience of local politics in much less genteel surroundings than this halcyon rural retreat. Make sure the press photographers and camera crews are on hand eh.

Sun 6 Dec 2009, 18:10

I agree with you Jon. The whole direction of WODC over the nine (goodness !!) years that I have been a councillor is to encourage recycling in every way they can. However, while bring sites are in a mess like this they are talkng the talk but not walking the walk. The top officals and the cabinet member responsible need to make the contractors do their job. It's not that they are ignorant of the problem---I keep telling them and so do others.

We had an Environment Scrutiny meeting on Thursday and I very forcibly raised the issue of the Spendlove site (and the Chippy councillors said that the New Street site in Chippy which had improved, has now gone backwards again). We were told that the new contract would be tougher but we said it shouldn't have to wait till the new contract comes into force---we want it kept clear now. I also made one or two suggestions for the smoother running of the site and these are being considered. However, it is not rocket science---just people not doing their job propely. I really think the only answer is for me, and any others who want to, to keep on reporting any problems and just continue doing this until they manage to do their job as they should.

Thu 3 Dec 2009, 22:20

I agree with you in one sense, Sheelagh. Take responsibility for your actions.

But the trouble is that if people arrive to find the bins overflowing and take their stuff away, they will most probably then put it in their wheelie bins, and they won't come back next time to try again: they'll just bin it every time from then on.

Interestingly, if you look at my photo, you'll see that people were leaving their bottles and cardboard as neatly as possible (despite the wind and rain): in other words they were doing their best to see that their waste was recycled and they were trying not to make a mess!

They should be encouraged, not told to take it all away with them and bin it. No?

I think the council should take some pride in encouraging us to recycle, and thereby making the recycling facilities as easy and pleasant to use as possible. After all, the council is in a real sense US: we exercise control through the ballot box, we provide all the money they spend and we pay their wages. The present discouraging and disgusting arrangements are a disgrace to our community because they are carried out on our behalf and in our name.

At the end of the day it has to be the council's responsibility, because they draw up the contracts and enforce them, and if (and it's a big if) council staff are slack in getting the contractors to do their job, then it's the chief officers and the 'cabinet' councillors who are ultimately responsible.

I suggest that if we find the bins full, we should leave our recyclables beside them, and immediately phone Street Scene (the West Oxfordshire District Council department that is responsible) on 01993 861020 and demand that it be cleared.

Then tell the rest of us what they say!

The next step, if this doesn't work, will be to complain direct to the cabinet member of the council who has responsibility for recycling. Perhaps we can have his/her phone number and email address and take it from there. It's why we elect these people: it's what democracy is, or should be, all about!

Thu 3 Dec 2009, 14:19

One of the bins is again overflowing, with tin cans all over the ground. The council should of course empty bins quicker, but the responsibility for the mess lies with the people who just dump things, as in Jon's photo. Most recyclers seem to arrive by car so is it unreasonable to expect them to take the rubbish away if there is no room?

Thu 26 Nov 2009, 19:31

Is it any wonder the pubs are going out of business,OR is it the co-op employees hitting the bottle big time.

Thu 26 Nov 2009, 17:00

I like the thought that so many people are having parties hence the bottles!

Wed 25 Nov 2009, 14:52

Have just emailed the WODC head of street scene to get them to clear it up. They usually do that when I (frequently) contact them but it shouldn't need that. They should keep it clear anywhere.

Wed 25 Nov 2009, 14:17

Here we go again.