Council officers banned the Evening Gazette newspaper from a crunch waste collection meeting with angry residents.
The new refuse vehicles, costing £750,000, were launched in April with the aim of gathering rubbish and recyclables, including plastic bottles, paper and glass.
But the system, incorporating new routes round the borough, has come in for a barrage of criticism from residents.
Colchester Council's clean and green panel, made up of volunteers, met to demand answers last night and members invited the Evening Gazette to hear them.
But head of street services John Simpson and waste and transport manager Dave McManus said the meeting was not a public one and refused to go ahead if the Evening Gazette stayed.
Following the two-hour session at Colchester Town Hall, panel member Paula Whitney said no "solid answers" were given anyway.
Mrs Whitney said members slammed the new waste collection service, which has been plagued with problems, including rubbish going uncollected for weeks.
Published Wednesday June 9, 2004
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