The Leader of the Opposition and Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to the Leader of the Council, Councillor Jean Stretton, to express his disappointment that the new Council website still fails to mention that Bulky Bobs provides a free collection service to many of the Borough’s most disadvantaged residents.

Councillor Sykes said: “Last year, I discovered in a report that went to the Council’s Cabinet a hidden provision in the contract between Bulky Bobs and Oldham Council in which the elderly, disabled and pregnant residents can still access one free bulky waste collection every year.

“That this provision existed was a surprise to me and a surprise also to the Leader of the Council when I asked her at the September 2017 meeting of the full Council to promote it.  Councillor Stretton kindly agreed to do so and I was disappointed to see that there is still no mention of the free service on the Council’s website despite it being recently revamped to improve its accessibility to residents.

“Many of our elderly, disabled and pregnant residents are struggling day to day on a low income and being faced with a charge to remove their bulky waste makes it harder for them to be able to act responsibility and dispose of their bulky items properly.  If no one eligible knows about this free service how can they take it up?  I have written again to the Leader asking her to ensure that officers take action to rectify this as a matter of urgency.”