HOUSEHOLD waste collections could become fortnightly to help the borough council save up to £1 million a year, it has admitted.

The potential scheme, which could see the 73,000 black and grey bins in the borough collected every other week, is due to be discussed by Basingstoke and Deane borough councillors on Wednesday, January 18.

The revelation has sparked fears that rubbish will “pile up and smell horrible”, particularly outside blocks of flats. Others are angry at the prospect of paying more council tax for half the number of waste collections.

It also comes at a time when the county council is reducing the hours recycling centres are open.

The Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council contract could see waste collections alternating with the recycling collection, which it says will increase the recycling rate and save up to £1million a year.

The proposal has been slammed by leader of Basingstoke Labour, Cllr Paul Harvey, who said: “Yet again, people are being asked to pay more for less of a service that is not a good service anyway. The council are being hypocrites, promising for years that they wouldn’t change the service to every two weeks and now they are trying to sneak it in, it’s really not on. They are betraying the promise that they made to the people of Basingstoke.”

The contract changes have met further criticism from leader of the Basingstoke Liberal Democrats, Cllr Gavin James, who said: “It’s understandable that they have to look at every option to save money. However, I have severe reservations about this.

“While council tax is going up, the amount of work that they are doing for their residents seems to be going down.

“It’s unfortunate that it has come to this, but the council have wasted money and investment opportunities and residents are paying the price for their incompetence. They have some explaining to do.”

There will be additional complications, if the proposed change goes through, according to Basingstoke Labour’s deputy leader, Cllr Michael Westbrook: “In apartment blocks, it is already bad enough and the rubbish will pile up and smell horrible.”

Cabinet member for the environment and regulatory services Cllr Hayley Eachus said: “It costs millions of pounds a year and we are currently re-letting the contract for the company to do this.

“It would be wrong not to look at the service as a whole and consider all the options, especially given the size of this contract and the substantial savings the council will need to find in future. At this point, we don’t need to make any decision we just want to have all the facts and see if there is evidence to support any change.”

The current contract is due to end in October 2018.

The council will be consulting residents on the potential change in April and May this year.

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