Residents left in lurch after bin strike

The ‘MAIL’ understands areas affected included Greenhill Park, Colban Crescent, Glenfield Road in Lurgan and homes in Dollingstown.

Leisure centres closed and bins were left unemptied as hundreds of Craigavon Council workers staged a one-day strike last week.

However, a spokesperson for Craigavon Council said the Civic Centre, Watersports Centre, Golf and Ski Centre plus all parks were open.

She explained that all leisure centres were closed and there was a reduced service at Lough Neagh Discovery Centre.

“No bin collections took place and have been rescheduled, details of which can be found on our website, Facebook and Twitter pages,” said the spokesperson.

However, Thursday’s action appears to have spilled into Friday with residents in a number of areas expressing concerns their bins were not emptied that day.

In Dollingstown it was the green recycling bins that were affected, with one resident saying: “It’s not so bad it was the green bin, they won’t be lifted again until next Friday but at least there’s nothing in them that will give off a smell, it’s all just papers.”

In Greenhill Park it was the blue bins that were impacted, leaving a greater problem given the more perishable nature of the rubbish in the bins

According to local DUP Councillor Carla Lockhart, council has said: “If your blue or brown bin was missed (Friday, July 11) following the industrial strike action, please place your bins out for collection again from Tuesday, July 15 and council will endeavour to return to those addresses and empty your bins.”

However, a number of people also missed out on Tuesday’s collection with little opportunity to get the message out over the holiday weekend.