West Lothian Council hopes to avoid the shocking scenes of rubbish strewn streets seen in the Capital during strikes.
But today the council acknowledged that the street cleansing service will be significantly reduced which will impact on services during the period of strike action.
The council has pledged that the service will continue respond to priority requests such as broken glass. If resources allow, emptying litter bins will be prioritised first then litter picking in high footfall areas, such as town centres will continue. However, given the strike action is due to take place over the weekend, it is possible that town centres will experience higher than normal levels of litter.
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West Lothian is keen to avoid scenes of waste piling up and litter seen in central Edinburgh which have been broadcast across the media for the last few days. There are likely to be some delays for street cleansing requests in some areas however, we aim to prioritise resources to reduce disruption to town centres.
A spokesperson said: “The council is preparing as best we can to minimise service disruption and will ensure that as many litter bins as possible are emptied prior to the industrial action taking place to minimise the chance of bins overflowing.”
West Lothian Council is warning residents of significant service disruption as a result of potential industrial action.
Currently the council has been advised that industrial action is expected to take place between Wednesday 24 August until Wednesday 31 August and then again from Wednesday 7 September until Saturday 10 September.
Reduced staffing levels for the period of the industrial action will result in disruption to waste collections throughout West Lothian, street cleansing services and Household Waste Recycling Centres.
Updates will be available on the council’s website and through email alerts. Updates on the impact of strike action will be available at www.westlothian.gov.uk/strike
A spokesperson for West Lothian Council said: “This is a national issue, but we are preparing for the likely impact of industrial action on council services in West Lothian. If industrial action does proceed, the council has reduced staffing levels that will significantly reduce the level of service we are able to provide.
“We would like to apologise to our customers affected by this industrial action.”
All household waste collections (grey, brown, green and blue bins) are suspended on the following dates:
- Friday 26 August
- Saturday 27 August
- Sunday 28 August
- Monday 29 August
- Wednesday 7 September
- Thursday 8 September
- Friday 9 September
- Saturday 10 September
Householders are urged not to put bins out on these dates but to present them on the next scheduled collection day.
A spokesperson added: "If you do not have space in your bins for further waste, please keep your waste safe, secure and away from pavements and roads. Where possible, please consider using a garage, garden or driveway and ensure strong bin bags are properly secured.
"Waste left on top of bins or at the side of bins will not be collected."
Householders that have scheduled bin (grey, brown, green and blue) collections on the following dates should present their bin as normal, although there are warnings of disruption.
- Wednesday 24 August
- Thursday 25 August
- Tuesday 30 August
- Wednesday 31 August
The spokesperson added that the impact on staff levels by strike action may affect uplifts
Flat dwellers , and those with communal bins are urged not to cram rubbish in if they find their bins is full, looks for space in nearby communal bins or store waste at home. Householders are urged not to leave leave bags next to communal bins unless this is unavoidable, as it can become a hazard.
Customers are asked to sign up for email alerts sign up for alerts including reminders on service disruption at: https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/bin-collections
Further bad news for householders is that all Household Waste Recycling Centres will be closed on the following dates:
- Friday 26 August
- Saturday 27 August
- Sunday 28 August
- Monday 29 August
- Wednesday 7 September
- Thursday 8 September
- Friday 9 September
- Saturday 10 September
Should staffing levels allow the Recycling Centres to open during the industrial action the council will advise customers via the council’s website and social media.
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