HOUSEHOLDERS in Bromsgrove who will miss having their refuse collected during Bank Holiday weeks will in future be given free plastic bags.

It follows Bromsgrove District Council's recent change of policy to move to a fixed day collection service.

The previous "rolling day" system following holidays caused many problems.

Over the last Christmas and New Year period, switchboard operators at the Council House, in Burcot Lane, dealt with a staggering 4,400 calls from concerned residents inquiring about collections.

Householders whose collection days now fall on Bank Holidays will be given two free bags in which to put their rubbish.

Details of the scheme were set to be outlined last night to members of the district council's health and leisure scrutiny committee in response to a question put by committee member Cllr Stephen Peters (Con, South Wythall).

Arrangements

He wanted to know what arrangements were being made in view of the fact that 40 per cent of households in the district would miss their collection when two holidays occurred in the same week.

He also wanted to know if residents, some of whom do not receive Council Chat, the authority's own newspaper had been officially informed of the changes.

The council's head of performance and technical services, John Moody, said details about the new scheme will be included in residents' council tax bills which will soon be dropping through letterboxes.

Before the meeting Cllr Peters said he would like the refuse collection service discussed in greater detail at a future meeting.