Prior to the upgraded kerbside collection we visited the rubbish tip at Princes Drive in Leamington fortnightly - where the staff are excellent and happy to help at all times.

Our experience so far of the kerbside collection team couldn't be more different. The first collection at the beginning of April was a fiasco. Our recycle box was not emptied as it wasn't at the edge of our path, which would then obstruct the public footpath, (it was carefully positioned six inches away). Having observed they hadn't emptied it, we spoke to one of the team who advised stepping on our path would be a health and safety issue and we would now need to carry the bin to them (as they were three doors away).

Today (Tuesday) was their second visit. As part of Leamington's conservation area we are instructed by legislation on how we must best preserve the character of our street. Our once pretty street is now a miriad of boxes and rubbish, with cans strewn across the road, plastic bottles, broken glass and upturned recycle boxes strewn everywhere. Prior to the collection the bags and boxes had been carefully collated and arranged, and there was no evident litter.

However the greatest price to be paid was by our dog. We embarked on a walk shortly after the collection which resulted in him getting shards of glass through one paw (four doors from our house). In our attempts to negotiate the bins/tins and a pile of loose papers and debris that were strewn around, we missed a beer bottle that had been smashed on the pavement by our collection team. So £100 insurance excess and three stitches later he is now recovering, though we shall no longer be recycling with the Sort-It team again.

In future we will take our recycle box to Princes Drive, where we can be sure of a friendly smile and helpful assistance. We will also be confident that we are enabling the kerbside team to create an unkempt and dangerous street for young, infirm or four legged friends.
I am not given to complaining but having spent 18 minutes on the phone holding to speak to the council, who were then officious and unapologetic, I have to speak out.

During the conversation I noticed a mobility user struggling to negotiate the obstructed pavement, and reverse 100ft in order to cross the road as it was impassable.

When I advised the council employee of this, she said she was unable to comment but would pass on my comments to the team, who would be in touch if they felt it necessary to do so. - Resident of Manor Road, Leamington (name supplied).