Council buys new bin lorries amid sabotage probe

The suspected sabotage of two vehicles has been reported to police, according to the council

Brighton & Hove City Council has bought four more new bin lorries as an investigation starts into the suspected sabotage of two vehicles.

The council's leader, Bella Sankey, said the suspected cutting of lorry wires at the Cityclean rubbish and recycling depot in Hollingdean was being investigated by police.

A statement from the council said CCTV cameras were being analysed after the wires on two lorries were apparently "purposely cut to ensure the vehicles couldn’t operate".

Labour councillor Tim Rowkins announced the purchase of new lorries, to be used to empty communal bins, at a meeting of the council’s city environment, South Downs and the sea committee on Tuesday.

He said: “First, I want to acknowledge the significant drop in the reliability of our refuse and recycling collections in recent weeks.

“After a few months of much-improved service to our residents, it’s obviously very disappointing to see it disrupted in this way.”

'Held to ransom'

Mr Rowkins said that communal bin collections were missed on several occasions over the past few weeks, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

He said he had been out on rounds helping to clear the backlog in the city centre.

“Lasting improvements to this service remain a central focus of this administration and we will continue to give it the attention that it deserves,” he said.

Ms Sankey said that a small minority were disrupting the rubbish and recycling service and added: “We will not be held to ransom by these people.”

The council is leading a programme of culture change to improve and modernise the service.

A report into Cityclean, commissioned by the council, highlighted a culture of racism, sexism, homophobia, bullying and violence at the Hollingdean depot.

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