EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR BRIGG

What a pleasant surprise it was to check Brigg's bin-emptying arrangements for the Christmas and New Year period and discover that despite Tuesday - our day for general waste collection - being a bank holiday on December 28, North Lincolnshire Council still intends to send the refuse boys round.

The council website offers the following list of collection dates for Brigg properties (you type in your postcode and it generates your household's details for you):

Blue kerbside box - paper Tuesday 14/Dec/2010
General waste wheeled bin Tuesday 14/Dec/2010
Green kerbside box - cans, glass and aluminium foil Tuesday 14/Dec/2010
Textiles bag Tuesday 14/Dec/2010
General waste wheeled bin Tuesday 21/Dec/2010
Plastics kerbside wheeled bin Tuesday 21/Dec/2010
Blue kerbside box - paper Tuesday 28/Dec/2010
General waste wheeled bin Tuesday 28/Dec/2010
Green kerbside box - cans, glass and aluminium foil Tuesday 28/Dec/2010
Textiles bag Tuesday 28/Dec/2010
Brown organic waste wheeled bin Wednesday 05/Jan/2011
Plastics kerbside wheeled bin Wednesday 05/Jan/2011

Note that they are collecting general waste on December 14, 21 and 28 during this period of peak demand for the service. BRIGG BLOG GOLD STARS ALL ROUND!

Coun Len Foster, whose been around in North Lincolnshire politics a long time and is now Deputy Leader, said: “We are trying our hardest to resume collections as quickly as possible. But we have been fighting a losing battle with the weather and this has really hindered collections. But with the expected thaw this weekend, this means, all being well, we can start collecting from Monday. We will do everything we can to ensure the backlog is cleared before Christmas. And this means working seven days a week to get the job done. And instead of putting your general waste bin out as normal every two weeks, you can put them out every week until the end of December and we will empty them. This will hopefully help those residents who have been struggling with excess waste. But we will only be able to empty your bin if we can get access down the roads. This is where you can help us by moving your cars and where possible putting them on the drive. This will enable us to clear the roads to make way for the collection crews.”

Re. the last little bit, Lennie: Drove ever so slowly down Yarborough Road and turned into Springfield Road, Brigg, this morning - both like taking your car for a spin on the undulating, frozen surface of Pluto - and moved to the side of the road to let a neighbour's van get past. I'm now stuck in the ice and snow by the kerb - wheels spinning but no traction, forward or back. Any chance of a push, sir? The serious point is: If the council cleared estate roads, motorists would happily move their cars so their dustbin lorries could get through. It's a weather version of the old chicken and egg situation, but surely the snow came first!