Festive bin collections delayed for up to 28 days

Some households will have to wait up to 28 days between bin collections over the festive period.

Cheltenham residents who get their recycling or green bin waste collected between 11 December and 13 December will have to wait until 7-9 January.

The borough council has said it want its waste and recycling teams to enjoy some proper time off and celebrate Christmas with their families.

All other local council authorities in Gloucestershire are moving pick up days either forward or back, with some working on Saturday.

Food waste recycling which is usually weekly will be fortnightly for some.

Cheltenham resident Clive Wilce was surprised by the plan: "I haven't seen anything from the council but I think it will be the food waste that will be the biggest issue."

Gina Atkinson lives in the Leckhampton area of Cheltenham and will not get her black bag waste collected for 28 days. She has a toddler and is worried about vermin.

"I need to work out where I can get rid of his nappies." She said, adding that, "In the back alley we actually have a rat issue at the moment, not in our houses but there's an old sewage pipe."

But for Alan Evans, who also lives in Leckhampton it is not a big issue, because he barely fills his bin with black bag waste normally.

"We generate very little waste we recycle everything, even beer bottle tops."

Councillor Izaac Tailford, cabinet member responsible for waste and recycling at Cheltenham Borough Council, said this was a new approach they were trialling so the workers could spend more time with their families.

"They work hard for our town all year round, including catch up collections after bank holidays, so I am glad we could offer them a real break." Mr Tailford said.

The council will be offering a bumper collection day in January, allowing people to put extra black bags and recycling at the side of the road.

For those who want to get rid of waste sooner they can use the bring banks dotted around the town or the Household Recycling Centre on Swindon Road before it closes next year.

Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.