Fury as bins 'uncollected for weeks' as councillors say 'it's a lottery'

Councillors in a city ward have said it is a "lottery if bins are collected" after weeks of missed collections. Piles of black bin bags have stacked up on Cromwell Lane in Acocks Green for nearly three weeks.

They claim bin crews have failed to empty the wheelie bins on October 22 and 29. Councillors Kerry Brewer and Bruce Lines said they had reported an additional '10 roads' in the last week, which remained uncollected.

These roads included Bunford Close, Ley Hill Farm Road, Moors Lane, Bickington Road, Davena Drive, Tigley Avenue, Brook Drive, Bridgeburn Road, Farwood Road and Loxley Close. When they chased the matter up with Lifford Lane Depot, they were told the facility had been suffering from vehicle breakdowns and they were unable to confirm when the bins would be collected.

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Councillors Kerry Brewer and Bruce Lines, who run the In Touch With Bartley Green Facebook group, posted the reply from the Lifford Lane depot online.

The response said: "Unfortunately, the depot has been experiencing ongoing vehicle breakdowns and issues which have impacted the service delivery. I am unable to confirm when these roads will be cleared as we are currently trying to catch up on dropped work where possible, this work is included in the work that we are trying to catch up on.

"Crews will clear a reasonable amount of side waste when considering this has been dropped and for how long, please advise residents to leave their bins out for clear up."

Meanwhile, the councillors said the bin service has "progressively been getting worse" and it was a "lottery" if bins are collected.

The councillors said: "Most residents in Bartley Green Have suffered at the hands of this incompetent Labour Council, with missed collections of both recycling and household waste. The tissue of excuses, such as staff sicknesses and broken down vehicles, has been exhausted.

"The residents off Bartley Green Ward have been let down for the last 6 months, and it’s a lottery if your bin is going to be collected!"

Birmingham City Council has been contacted for comment.