A PLAN to introduce a black bag refuse collection service throughout the district is being considered - the Advertiser/Messenger can reveal.

Bromsgrove District C ouncil is carrying out trials on plastic bags to determine their strength and costs involved before putting proposals before councillors who will decide if the system will be adopted.

Cllr John Tidmarsh (Con, Stoke Prior), cabinet member for environment and health, said bags appear to be superior to traditional metal or plastic bins on a number of counts.

He said many households already use them as they are hygienic, convenient and easier to handle.

The main draw back, he said, is that they are easily punctured by sharp items such as needles.

However, if the scheme is adopted binmen will be issued with protective clothing and will undergo training.

"One reason the council is looking to make the switch is to make the task of collecting refuse easier for our staff," he said.

He stressed the plan is still in the embryo stage and is not council policy.

The recently introduced fixed day for collecting refuse in the district is to stay, at least for the time being.

At a policy and resources meeting on May 22, Labour group leader Cllr Peter McDonald (Uffdown and Waseley) proposed returning to the system of changing the collection day after Bank Holidays.

He told the committee he had received numerous complaints from, in particular, the elderly and families who say they are being penalised by having to store rubbish for two weeks.

The committee voted to keep the present system.

But Cllr Tidmarsh said later, the scheme has been approved by the council, but will be reviewed after a suitable settling-in period when any modifications necessary will be introduced.