Residents of a new housing estate in Flintshire have gone six months without bin collections, prompting calls for council tax rebates. Approximately 60 households on the Hawthorn Meadows estate in Buckley have been unable to have their rubbish or recyclables collected since moving in.
While bins were delivered to the estate last month, refuse collection services have yet to commence for these homes. Residents are frustrated by the ongoing situation, with some resorting to using skips provided by the estate developer, Castle Green Homes, at the developer's expense.
Nathan Long, one of the affected residents, is seeking a 100% council tax rebate. He argues that he has been paying council tax since moving onto the estate but has not received the expected services. "It feels like we are not getting anywhere," Long stated. "We complain and we get responses that in part pass the buck on to others and in part pledge to do something about the problem."
He noted the irony of seeing bin crews collecting waste from a nearby street while their own bins remain full. "At one point I went to lodge a formal complaint about the situation and was told I couldn't as technically we hadn't missed a collection," Long added.
Castle Green Homes has stated it will continue to provide skips for residents until the issue is resolved. A council spokesperson indicated that a multi-step setup process is required before new waste and recycling collection services can be established for the estate. Katie Wilby, council chief officer for streetscene and transportation, explained that while developers normally arrange these services before residents move in, the council is actively working to resolve the situation for occupied properties. A council officer is scheduled to visit the site to confirm occupancy, conduct safety checks, and integrate eligible homes into the collection system as quickly as possible.
Mr. Long is awaiting a response from the local authority regarding his request for a council tax rebate.