THE ongoing missed bin collections fiasco is still plaguing the Royal Borough –  but a “plan B” has been put together.

Since reverting back to weekly collections with revised routes and a new ‘target operation model’ in August, the Royal Borough’s waste contractors Serco have repeatedly overlooked residents’ bins across the borough – despite additional crews and bin lorries to work through the backlog.

At a Wraysbury Parish Council (WPC) meeting on Monday (October 19), councillor Margret Lenton, chairman, said her email inbox is full of Wraysbury locals complaining their bins have not been emptied despite Serco promising they will do better.

“It’s everybody’s view that this contract is failing,” said Cllr Lenton.

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The lead member for parking and public safety, councillor David Cannon (Conservative: Datchet, Horton, and Wraysbury) said Serco were “over-ambitious” when implementing the new modelling system.

He revealed a meeting was held with Serco putting together a “plan B” to add in a Saturday collection and reduce the service on Tuesdays and Fridays across the borough.

It has been “stress-tested” on Monday and won’t be implemented until the lead member for waste, councillor David Coppinger (Conservative: Bray), is confident and satisfied with its performance.

If implemented, residents affected by this change will be notified.

Cllr Cannon said: “It’s total chaos. Hopefully these plans they’re hoping to bring in will amend this – but until such time, all we can do is keep harassing Serco.

“There are financial penalties involved, I am told they are being implemented.

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“Serco have put some money into this because they’re bringing in trucks and people from everywhere across the country to try and address this concern and they’re working additional days and overtime.

“But, hopefully, if they can get their act together – which I’m not holding my breath – they will get revised routes in place, taking into account of the obvious that is the tip is far away from us [Wraysbury], and hopefully resolve the problem.”

Cllr Cannon warned if Serco continues this poor service and does not make the new modelling system work, the “suitability of continuing the contract will be under consideration”.

It was heard Wraysbury was one of the worst-hit villages for missed collections.

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The chair of WPC said the managing director of the Royal Borough, Duncan Sharkey, told her they’re going to “split” Wraysbury, with collections on one day and one on another.

Last week, the council published a list of roads that Serco missed during their collection round on Tuesday (October 13).

Seventy-seven per cent of scheduled collections were completed – but councillors at WPC said some missed roads were not added on that list such as Wraysbury Road.

The lead member for waste, Cllr Coppinger, will be asked to attend the next parish meeting to answer WPC’s concerns.