CALLS have been made to delay the second phase of Wychavon’s wheelie bin scheme if delivery and collection problems cannot be sorted out.

Some of Wychavon’s district councillors strongly criticised the way the first phase had been handled by both the council and its contractor Focsa.

And they suggested the scheme was not rolled out to the remaining 40,000 homes in March as planned until the council was confident it had learned all of its lessons.

At a meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee Councillor Jo Sandalls said: “We are supposed to be an excellent council, the best council in the country, but I’m afraid the people of Ombersley don’t think that at the moment.”

Councillor Margaret Rowley said: “The majority of people didn’t want the bins in the first place so this is the right way to alienate people further.”

The meeting was told there had been problems across the district with both bin deliveries and collections because binmen had been on rounds they did not know and some lorries had not been able to fit down narrow country lanes, however, councillors were told Focsa would pick up the bill for the catch-up costs. “Before we go forward and try and do the whole of the district in one big hit I would like to hear assurances these errors and problems won’t arises again,” said Councillor Martin King.

And Councillor John Smith said Wychavon should have learnt lessons from Worcester city and Wyre Forest district councils, which also experienced problems.

Meanwhile, Councillor Judy Pearce said she had not experienced any problems in Dodderhill and leader Paul Middlebrough refuted ideas the scheme, which has been rolled out 12,000 homes, was “half-cocked”.

He said more than eight tonnes of food waste had already been collected for composting instead of going to landfill. He apologised to residents affected and said the council was working with Focsa to rectify the problems.

l The areas covered in phase two of the Wychavon wheelie bin rollout are all Droitwich wards, Pershore, Eckington, Bredon, South Bredon Hill, Fladbury, Elmley Castle, Somerville, all Evesham wards, Broadway, Wickhamford, Badsey, Bretforton and Offenham, the Littletons, Honeybourne and Pebworth, Harvington and Norton, and the parishes of Westwood, Cookhill, Abbots Morton, Rous Lench, Abberton and Church Lench.