Cwmbran Community Councillors want action from Torfaen Council over bin collections being repeatedly missed in Llantarnam.

The issue came up during a meeting last Wednesday of the council’s environment, sustainability and planning committee. Councillor Mandy Owen, the council’s executive member for the environment, was due to attend but had to give her apologies.

Councillor William Walker, Llantarnam Ward, said: “The last six weeks in Llantarnam have been a damn shambles. (Cllr) Mike Villars (Llantarnam Ward) can back it up with photos. This is totally out of order. We’ve had missed collections. Go to Llanyrafon, St Dials, Old Cwmbran. They’re all clear.

“That’s not good enough. We pay for it to be done. We’ve had food waste on the pavement, we’ve had cardboard taken away and lit. All the evidence is there. We are at the end of our tether in Llantarnam.”

He said he was told the problem was down to “staff on the sick” and “broken down vehicles”.

Cllr Kebba Manneh, St Dials Ward, suggested that they write a formal letter to the council and complain.

Cllr Anthony Bird, Northville Ward, said the problem is probably worse in Llantarnam as collection day is a Friday so problems that occur earlier in the week get carried over: “I’m backing you up Bill (Cllr Walker). I’ve heard you say the same thing many times.”

He said food collections had been missed on days when the temperature reached 30 degrees meaning the problem had gone from being a nuisance to a potential environmental health issue.

Cllr Manneh said they must “act now” and also send the photos taken by Cllr Villars: “If this is not resolved, we will go to the next stage.”

Councillors agreed to write to the council with a timeframe for a response and if they were not satisfied would look at taking it to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.