LANCASHIRE Waste Services, the company in charge of Winsford's refuse collections, has come under fire from local trade unionists and council officials.

Executives at LWS are working to pacify employees, who claim that the company denied them holiday rights promised to them by Vale Royal Borough Council last year.

The new row follows a rap from the council itself, which said that LWS's service "deteriorated unacceptably" earlier this year.

Dustcart driver Geoff Parkes, who represents the refuse workers on the National Union of Public Employees, said: "Last year, while we were working for Vale Royal, we didn't take all of our holidays, on the understanding that we would be given compensation holidays by LWS.

"That hasn't happened. LWS have denied that they were obliged to do that."

LWS spokesman Tony Brown said that delicate negotiations with the union members were under way.

"This is a matter between ourselves and the union that will go to conciliation, and things are at a very sensitive stage," he said.

"Obviously we recognise that the union has a complaint, and that they would like things to be going a little faster as regards the negotiations."

Meanwhile, Vale Royal Borough Council says it is now satisfied that daily collections in the borough have returned to normal.

"There was a substantial problem with the service around April, May and June, despite LWS's good start in January," said Vale Royal's Richard Hallows.

"There were 'hotspots' where the problems were especially acute, but the matter was quite widespread.

"We made our feelings known to LWS, as did individual householders, but we are now quite satisfied that things are back to standard."

Mr Brown added: "The problems arose because we had to make changes to the collection routine.

"Those kind of changes happen quite regularly, and depend on the arrangements being made by each householder or area.

"For instance, if an area switches to wheely bins, that will require an adjustment.

"But we are happy to report that the service has resumed its usual high standard."

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