A strike by refuse workers is beginning to bite in Keswick with reports of overflowing bins on verges being reported to Allerdale Waste Services.
One of those who has written a letter highlighting problems being experienced on roads around St Herbert’s Primary School is parent Katerine Mattinson.
“The bins around the school are overflowing with dog poo bags and general rubbish and the smell is horrendous, especially when it’s hot,” said Katherine, who lives at Threlkeld Quarry. “It seems to be happening in areas where tourists are not going to see. It looks like they are trying to clean up the more frequently used areas and are forgetting about other areas.
“I think we should be getting some sort of rebate or reduction in our council tax which is ridiculously high as it is. I am for the right to strike and I feel that everybody has got entitlements to do so, but they (the council) don’t seem to be making any headway in trying to tackle the situation and it’s going to get worse with summer approaching.”
Nicola Greenhow, of The Hopes, who also has children at the primary school, said that the bins were disgusting and unsightly and were likely to attract vermin like rats.
“There are a lot of disgruntled parents complaining on my Facebook page,” she said. “It is making the town look very untidy and unkempt. The rubbish in some bins is now overflowing and spilling onto the floor.”
Refuse workers in Allerdale who are members of the Unite and GMB unions went on strike earlier this year in a dispute over pay.
Members of the unions say that staff of Allerdale Waste Services are underpaid compared to other refuse collectors in the Cumberland Council area – a claim strongly disputed by the authority.
The union said workers were paid £10.90 an hour as loaders and drivers were paid £11.89.
Allerdale Waste Services is a wholly owned trading company of Cumberland Council – formerly Allerdale Borough Council – and provides waste collection services for the authority.
Allerdale Waste Services apologised to Mrs Mattinson for the “service disruption” she has experienced resulting from the industrial action.
It added: “Allerdale Waste Services have been working collaboratively with officers from Cumberland Council and have put forward contingency plans to try and minimise the impact on residents and businesses in the area as best as they can, however, they ask that people are patient with them at this difficult time.”
Meanwhile, refuse collectors gathered outside Allerdale House in Workington last week as their industrial action entered its seventh week.
Members of the Unite union held the rally outside Cumberland Council’s offices in a show of strength on Tuesday.
Refuse collectors went on strike for a few days in April before beginning an indefinite period of industrial action on May 16.
