CHANGES to Southend’s waste collection could impact densely populated areas of the borough where rubbish storage is already a problem... and has led to rats.

Residents fear built up areas like Milton, Westborough and Kursaal wards already have a problem with the storage of waste for weekly collections.

Despite assurances, these areas with a large number of narrow roads with terraced homes and little offstreet capacity for waste storage, could potentially continue with sacks and weekly collections.

But some are not convinced.

Indeed, a snap poll on our website Echo-news.co.uk revealed 91 per cent of readers were against fortnightly collections.

Julian Lowes, 64, of Seaforth Road, Westcliff, formerly a member of the now-defunct Milton Ward Community Group, said: “The issue is they are working on two different principles from either end.

“They allowed houses to be split up into HMOs and flats and did not insist on adequate arrangements for rubbish storage.

“Some of those flats already don’t have the storage for weekly collections so they just dump it on the street.

“Going fortnightly definitely wouldn’t work here.

“We have a real problem with foxes and rats already.

“Ask the council how many times they have to come out to pick up rubbish not left out on collection day.

“We created a driveway on our home for our two cars but I don’t want to look out of my window and wheelie bins.”

Tony Cox, leader of the opposition Conservative group, also panned the proposal saying it was a cost cutting exercise.

He said: “I agree with James, it is going to look like a 1970s industrial dispute. We saw what it looked like at the disastrous start of the Veolia waste contract.

“They have a £600,000 shortfall they have got to plug.

“They have got no money to play with so they are taking this decision on bin collections.”

Mr Cox added: “Rochford doesn’t have the density of housing that we do.

“I worry about the centre of the town, wards like Kursaal and Westborough.

“They say they may keep bags in these areas but if the black bags are collected fortnightly then those parts of town will be getting a second class service.

“They are treating us with contempt.”

Ron Woodley, deputy leader of the council, said discussions over fortnightly bin collections were ongoing.

He said: “No decisions have been made yet.

“At the moment it costs us £2.6million a year in landfill charges because the town is not recycling enough.”

Mr Woodley added: “We won’t force wheelie bins on anyone who hasn’t got space and areas like Westborough that could have issues then weekly black sacks will continue.”