Jeff's five-month fight to empty bins still not won
A ST BLAZEY shopkeeper has hit out at a waste collection service for turning the area into a "rubbish dump" following a five-month battle to have the public bins emptied.
Jeff Oliver, who runs St Blazey Post Office and Convenience Store, contacted the Cornish Guardian after growing weary of rubbish strewn outside his shop.
Mr Oliver, 44, said: "It's disgusting. The public bins are overflowing. I am out there sometimes three times a day picking up and cleaning up the rubbish.
"It's not just a problem for my shop; it's causing a problem for others too."
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He has had to clean up takeaway wrappings, nappies, sick and even dog mess.
"Our business rates and council tax has gone up but what are we getting for that? If it wasn't for me sweeping up and putting the rubbish into bags the rubbish would just be left there.
"People who visit St Blazey will perceive it as a rubbish dump."
Mr Oliver said despite contacting Cornwall councillor Roy Taylor "more times than he can remember" nothing has changed.
Mr Oliver added: "Cory should be answerable for the poor service we are receiving."
Mr Taylor, the councillor for St Blaise, said he had repeatedly raised the problem with county hall officers but the area's rubbish plight had fallen on deaf ears.
He now plans to file an official complaint about Cory Environmental.
Litter bin-emptying was taken over by Cory as part of an eight-year, £125 million contract.
The firm is also responsible for the kerbside collection service, which was plagued with problems when it was first launched.
Mr Taylor said dog waste bins, which Cory Environmental are also contracted to empty, are also being left.
"I have tried but I can't get any reaction out of the council on this one. Why should it be left to public-spirited people like Jeff to pick up the rubbish?"
Cornwall Council has said that since receiving complaints from residents and Mr Taylor, action had been taken. A spokesman said: " The litter bins are scheduled to be emptied each week; some every other day. A council officer has confirmed that he has carried out spot checks over the past six weeks to ensure that the contractor is complying with the contract and is satisfied that it is."
Comments
by Droofguy
Saturday, September 15 2012, 9:37PM
“Cory maybe emptying bins, but 3 dog waste bins have been removed recently on the route I walk my dog, so they're doing less for their money and what few dog waste bins remain are full, and left full for days.
Not good enough Cornwall Council, or Cory.”
by buzzzz
Saturday, September 15 2012, 3:15PM
“Although I tend to agree with some of the comments, don't you think that this might have been one of those free advertising ploys. I'm not knocking the guy for speaking out but why didn't he tell the council that he was going to contact the papers if it was not sorted within a timescale.
So what if he has a business, we have all got to do our bit and keep the streets tidy. The path at the side of our end terrace house hasn't been cleaned or sprayed for weeds in a long, long time, but that doesn't stop a neighbour or me doing it ourselves, making it look better and free from broken glass bottles cutting the kids. I've got the worst bad back ever but I give it a go. I'm not some old fuddyduddy but just a normal father of three who tries once in a while to make a difference. If we all left it and expected, what would the streets be like. Give it a go sometime, it makes your area much more welcoming.”
by Olly_Gark
Saturday, September 15 2012, 2:25PM
“And the 'cabinet' want MORE privatisation!!!”
by elfa66
Saturday, September 15 2012, 2:08PM
“The Council are on you like a ton of bricks if you don't pay your Comunity Charge. And yet they let these companies get away with not doing the job they are contracted to do.
It's time the Council got their fingers out !!.”
by kernewekonan
Friday, September 14 2012, 10:16AM
“just goes to prove that a load of over paid & hopeless despots are running county hall. time for a sort out.”
by cheekyman_jr
Friday, September 14 2012, 9:09AM
“Another pathetic example of how Cornwall Councils flawed contracts system fails the people of Cornwall...”