Wixams and Wilstead Cllr Graeme Coombes has welcomed the news that Bedford Borough Council will look again at providing a green waste collection service during December – February.

As part the Council’s decision to move to fortnightly bin collections it was agreed by the Mayor’s Executive to end the collection of green waste over the winter months.

Cllr Coombes has, however, raised concerns that there are residents in his Ward who will manage to get out in their gardens in this period but will not have their green waste collected for a considerable time.

At a meeting of the Council last week, Cllr Coombes asked the Deputy Mayor if the policy could be reconsidered and was told that the Council will be flexible in its approach.

Cllr Coombes, who is the Conservative Spokesperson on the Council’s Environment & Sustainable Communities Committee, said:

‘I know that a lot of people in my Ward are keen gardeners and will make it out to keep their gardens tidy over the winter, particularly when the weather is mild as it has been recently. 

‘The new policy means that for some residents their last green waste collection was mid-November and they will have to wait until mid-March for the next.  In some years spring has been well underway by this point and people are out mowing the grass and trimming hedges.

‘I am pleased, therefore, that there will be flexibility from the Council in assessing whether there is demand for extra green waste collections over the winter.