Archive for category: News

A news release from the SHDC Communications and Media Team

Council Reluctantly Suspend Garden Waste Collection Until Spring

Issued: 14 October 2021

To avoid further significant disruption to South Hams District Council’s refuse and recycling service, the Executive Committee have today reluctantly agreed to continue the suspension of the garden waste collections until spring 2022.

Council officers have explored a wide range of options to find possible ways to restore the garden waste service to all residents. Unfortunately, due to driver shortages, the Council and their contractor, FCC Environment, are unable to reinstate the service until Spring 2022; otherwise, this could significantly impact the waste, recycling and clinical collections that the Council legally has to provide.

Officers have also approached other organisations to help with a one-off collection ahead of the winter but this has not been possible because of the operational challenges others are also facing as well as the national driver shortages.

The Council are extremely regretful that the suspension at short notice caused disruption for their residents who may have had outstanding green waste to be collected. A shortage of drivers in August due to the national HGV driver issues and staff sickness meant the Council, together with FCC Environment, had to make the tough decision to prioritise the general refuse and recycling and clinical collections.

South Hams is not alone with experiencing significant delays due to the HGV driver shortages, experienced both nationally and across all business sectors. Locally, there have been challenges, which were highlighted by FCC Environment to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday 13 October.

FCC Environment explained that they currently have 27% of unfilled HGV/LGV vacancies, which continue to affect refuse and recycling collections. Council officers are looking at greener ways to support residents to recycle their garden waste and will report back to Executive in December.

South Hams District Council remains the only council in Devon to provide a completely free of charge. The collection of garden waste is a non-statutory service, which means it is not one that the Council has to provide.

Cllr Keith Baldry, Executive Member for Environment, said: “We haven’t had a great set of options available to choose from, and we have chosen the best of the group.

“I greatly regret that we have to suspend the garden waste service but the alternatives available would mean further disruption for our communities with impacts to their waste and recycling collections, which we’re doing our very best to improve upon.

“Officers have worked tirelessly, doing everything in their power to try and find a resolution and I’d like to thank and congratulate them for their hard work. They’ve been contacting neighbouring local authorities and private waste companies to see if they can provide us with help to collect a one-off garden waste collection. Unfortunately, all came back with a resounding no, due to their own driver shortages and backlogs.

“I regret that we did not have time to write to all residents in August when we first suspended our service. We learnt from our mistake and this time, we will be writing a letter to every resident explaining the situation and offering our apologies.

“I’d like to thank you, our residents, for your continued patience, we know it has been difficult, but please bear with us. I am proud of the relatively high recycling rates in South Hams and I want them to get better, not worse. In the meantime, please continue to home compost or take your garden waste to recycling centres.”

So, how do you get rid of your green waste?

• Compost your garden waste – here are some www.recycledevon.org/in-the-garden/how-to-compost tips. Please don’t put garden waste in the grey waste bin.
• Use recycle centres – All three recycling centres located in the South Hams are operated by Devon County Council and take garden waste. Full details, including opening hours, can be found at: www.devon.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling/centre
• Use a licensed waste collector who will responsibly take away your garden, or household, waste items. Please check first with the Environment Agency to see if they are registered: https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers

Please do not burn your garden waste. The Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service firmly advises against having bonfires, given the risks of fires spreading, the likely nuisance for neighbours and the potential diversion of emergency services. You can find out more here: www.dsfire.gov.uk/YourSafety/SafetyInTheHome/Bonfires

A News Release from SHDC Communications and Media Team

Garden waste suspension to continue in South Hams

17 September 2021

South Hams District Council and its contractor FCC Environment have made the reluctant decision to keep the suspension of all garden waste collections in place and say residents will be notified when they can start using their brown bins again.

At a meeting of the South Hams Executive yesterday, Councillors received an update on the waste and recycling situation in South Hams and have reluctantly agreed to keep the suspension of garden waste in place.  The Executive will review the situation when they meet again on 14 October.

A lack of drivers meant that in August the Council and FCC Environment made the tough decision to prioritise vital collections of general waste, clinical waste, recycling and refuse collections at the expense of garden waste collections.

At the request of the Council, FCC Environment has taken several steps to try and alleviate the situation. On a local level they have increased pay to retain their current drivers and at a national level they have launched a campaign to try and recruit more drivers.

However, with the national picture not improving, the decision has been made to keep focusing resources on essential waste and recycling collections and continue the suspension of garden waste collection in the South Hams.

Cllr Keith Baldry, South Hams Executive Member for the Environment, said: “As a Council, we were hoping that the nationwide situation on drivers may have shown signs of improvement, but in reality the situation is not getting better. When we made the original decision to suspend garden waste collections, we were left little choice to do so – and we still have no choice now but to keep the suspension in place.

“We realise that it is frustrating for our residents, but we must do all we can to keep the collections of general waste, clinical waste and recycling in place as best we can. We’re sorry to everyone for the inconvenience and hope you understand that this situation is one playing out across the country, not just here in the South Hams.

“We will let you know when you can start using your brown bins again, and there is some advice below on what you can do with your garden waste until then.”

According to Government figures, the driver shortage is reported to have increased over the last five years from 45,000 drivers in 2016 to 76,000 today.  A recent Road Haulage Association (RHA) survey put the estimated shortfall at more than 100,000, with the warning that it will take 18 months to train enough drivers to address the problem, even if there are enough candidates to take the roles.

Commenting, FCC Environment Operations Director Steve Longdon said: “All our staff have worked tirelessly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to maintain our services and ensure household waste continued to be collected but, as we return to normality, the sector is facing new challenges.

“LGV 1 and 2 drivers are essential for the waste and recycling sector, and we are committed to doing everything we can to fill our driver vacancies to continue to play our part in protecting public health and the environment, as well as the UK’s green economic recovery.”

FCC Environment was one of the signatories on an open letter that the Environmental Services Association (ESA) has sent to the Home Secretary, Priti Patel.

In the letter which represents local authority waste companies and recycling businesses, the ESA says that the shortage of drivers could hinder the sector’s ability to deliver upon the government’s resource-efficiency and environmental ambitions in the “longer term”.  The letter goes on to say that immediate relief is “urgently” needed for “this acute situation”.

FCC Environment is currently running a campaign to attract more trained LGV 1 and 2 drivers to support domestic waste collection crews and household waste recycling in South Hams. If you are interested in joining the team follow the link below to find out more:

https://www.fccenvironment.co.uk/about-us/careers/current-jobs/

The Council and FCC Environment will continue to review the situation, as the national driver shortage crisis develops. In the meantime, residents are being asked not to put garden waste in the grey wheelie / residual waste bin.

The Council is offering advice on what residents can do with their garden waste:

Compost: www.recycledevon.org/in-the-garden/how-to-compost

Recycle centres: All three recycling centres located in South Hams, operated by Devon County Council, take garden waste. Full details, including opening hours: www.devon.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling/centre

Please do not burn your garden waste.  The Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service firmly advises against having bonfires: www.dsfire.gov.uk/YourSafety/SafetyInTheHome/Bonfires
This is because of the risks of fires spreading, the likely nuisance for neighbours and the potential diversion of emergency services.

Check out their downloadable bonfire leaflet:   www.dsfire.gov.uk/YourSafety/SafetyInTheHome/Bonfires/documents/DS2018-2734BonfireSafetyLeaflet.pdf 

-ENDS

The date of the Annual Harvest Service in East Portlemouth Parish Church has had to be changed; from 26th September to 3rd October. It will be at the same time as previously published, starting at 3pm

We are hoping that we will be able to hold the traditional auction of foods and produce in the village hall after the service.

Notice of Road Closure in the Parish

On 17 August 2021, the Parish Council received a copy of a notification of another road closure in East Portlemouth. This one lasting from Tuesday 07 September 2021 until Friday 10 September 2021 (both dates being inclusive) for the purpose of drainage works.

The closure is for a short section of road around the church (see the small red section in the diagram below). The alternative route is via TREETOPS TO RICKHAM CROSS, EAST PORTLEMOUTH AND VICE VERSA

 

Notice of Road Closure in the Parish

On 12 August 2021, the Parish Council received notification of a road closure in East Portlemouth lasting from Thursday 12 August 2021 until Wednesday 18 August 2021 (both dates being inclusive).

The closure is from East Portlemouth Corner to Goodshelter Cross.

The alternative route for vehicles is via:   GOODSHELTER TO HOLSET, ROAD TO HOLSET, ROAD FROM TREETOPS TO RICKHAM CROSS, CROSS LANE TO VILLAGE FARM CROSS, EAST PORTLEMOUTH CORNER TO CROSS LANE