Arctic conditions affect council services (From Gazette)

Arctic conditions affect council services

5:00am Saturday 9th January 2010 in

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ICY weather is continuing to play havoc with council-run services across Tendring.

Tendring Council said its waste contractors were forced to suspend collections.

The state of many of the roads meant vehicles were called back yesterday morning to avoid putting crews at risk.

The council said waste collection vehicles were involved in a number of minor incidents on Wednesday in the Harwich and Mistley areas.

Residents are being advised not to put out rubbish, although the council hopes the backlog can start to be cleared on Monday, if the weather conditions improve.

Lynda McWilliams, councillor responsible for the environment, said: “Our contractors, Veolia, managed to get round everywhere last week and have done an excellent job so far this winter.

“But bosses decided that due to the treacherous state of roads, the service had to be suspended until conditions improve.”

The council said street sweeping would be halted during the cold snap and teams would instead be gritting pavements.

Currently all public toilets, except those in Clacton and Holland-on-Sea, are closed.

The council said it is also asking tenants to be patient regarding repairs, as the priority is to help people left without heating or electricity.

Tendring’s leisure sites in Clacton, Walton, Dovercourt, Harwich and Manningtree, will remain open, but Bright-lingsea Sports Centre has been closed.

Fitness fanatics are being urged to check whether sessions or classes are affected.

Vehicles from council-run cemeteries, except for services, will also be restricted in Clacton, Dovercourt and Walton.