MEMBERS of the public have been urged by Town Councillors to use social media to keep reminding Balfour Beatty of the need to empty the bins and remove rubbish from the streets of Ross-on-Wye regularly.

Councillors at Ross Town Council meeting on Monday, September 11th called for members of the public to contact Balfour Beatty to push them to provide cover for the local operative who empties the bins and keeps the town clean.

Local residents were also reminded to use the Herefordshire Council website to report issues directly.

Councillor Mayo said that the local operative had been involved in an accident during the Bank Holiday weekend and was likely to be off work for about six weeks. He said his absence has made it very clear just what a good job he does.

Councillor Caroline Utting said that she had tweeted Balfour Beatty locally, as well as the chief executive with a picture of an overflowing bin, and had a reply within 20 minutes.

Councillor Cutter said that Joyce Thomas, MBE DL, who had written to the Town Council about the cleanliness of the streets in Ross, was correct in her assessment that visitors to the town would be given a poor impression. Mrs Thomas’ letter was published in the Ross Gazette last week, September 6th.

Mrs Thomas praised the Town Council workmen who she had seen doing a thorough job of cleaning the Market Place. She then said:?“I have lived and worked in Ross for 60 years, I choose to live here because I love it. It is a beautiful town with friendly people but it is spoilt by the few who drop their cigarette ends, cans, fast food containers etc, with no thought for others. The pavements are a disgrace.”

?He said Town Council operatives do a really good job and the locality stewards take on board everything they are told but often what is asked for, such as repairing potholes adn dealing with litter cannot be done.

Cllr Cutter said:?“I have seen lots of pictures [of the problem bins etc] on Facebook and I want people to come forward and tell me directly if things are not being done.

“The bins needs emptying and rubbish needs to be removed on a regular basis.”

He said: “I agree the local operatives, the County Council’s and the Town Council’s are doing an excellent job but there is embarrassment [about the state of the town]. This is due to the upper management of Balfour Beatty, something needs to change in the chain of command.”

Councillor Mayo, who is also a Town?and County Councillor said that he had been trying to deal with Balfour Beatty. He also agreed with Mrs Thomas that some action needs to be taken. He said:?“When the local operative is on holiday there is no cover and something needs to be done about this.”

Councillor Cutter added, we cannot do it ourselves but the Town Council can make a fuss.

Councillor Julian Utting said that he agreed with Cllr Cutter and suggested that the Town Council could hold the County Council to account, and ask them to deliver a service in accordance with their contract.

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said: “Balfour Beatty Living Places employ a team of ten street cleansing operatives across the county. There was recently a short gap in our service due to unforeseen sick leave, for which we apologise. Additional staff have been brought in to ensure that an uninterrupted service is provided during this unplanned absence.”