BOLTON Council has felt the wrath of a Coronation Street star over changes to its bin collections.

The authority rolled out a new fortnightly grey bin collection service last month as part of efforts to improve recycling rates and save on disposal costs.

But speaking on social networking site Twitter, Georgia May Foote, who plays Katy Armstrong in the soap, was not impressed.

The 22-year-old, who hails from Bury but now lives in Bolton, said: “How can anyone think that only getting your black bin emptied every two weeks is a good idea? Ridiculous!”

The council replied via its Twitter feed saying: “Unfortunately we need to save £40m because of cut to grant from gov.”

She replied: “Either way, imagine families with children!

“And I keep missing the binmen because they keep coming before 8.”

The council told her its advice was to put bins out by 7.30am because that was when bins were collected, but she replied: “Yeah but they have been before half 7 the last few times!

“And then we have ran out and they told us it’s too late!”

The council advised her to contact its waste department.

Following the exchange, Twitter follower Mick Amos‏ said: “After Corrie I vote Georgia Foote for MP!”

 

How can anyone think that only getting your black bin emptied every two weeks is a good idea? @boltoncouncil ridiculous! X

— Georgia May Foote (@georgiafoote) June 10, 2013

 

The changes to bin collections were introduced on May 13 as part of efforts by the council to save £2.6 million in waste disposal costs.

Because of the changes, grey bins are now collected fortnightly instead of weekly and 30,000 homes which did not have green recycling bins have been given smaller waste containers and “kitchen caddies” for a new weekly food waste collection service, which has been running since April 15.

The Bolton News reported recently how bins in Blackhorse Avenue, Blackrod had not been emptied for eight week, which Blackrod town councillor Anne Cunliffe put down to a “hiccup” with the new system.

Meanwhile Hartfield Walk in Tonge Fold did not have its bins collected for five weeks, with the council later apologising for a missed pickup.

The authority insists the changes have been broadly welcomed, but has reported some problems with fly-tipping.