A COUNCILLOR has been forced to say sorry after cost-saving changes to bin collections caused chaos.

More than 80 per cent of Thurrock households had their bin collection days changed at the beginning of the month.

But the move, designed to save £300,000, left some residents without leaflets explaining the changes, others having their bins collected on days different to those advertised on the leaflets and some residents not having their bins collected for three weeks.

During the first week of the new collection scheme, only 74 per cent of the borough’s household bins were collected on time.

Outside one home in Woodward Close, Grays, disgruntled residents put up a sign demanding collection days return to what they were originally (pictured above).

At a full meeting of the council last Wednesday, environment portfolio holder Cllr Victoria Holloway apologised for the fiasco.

She said: “It’s very well known there was an issue with card deliveries. There have also been some issues with missed bins and roads.

“It’s normal to have a settling in period with a change of this magnitude. This is the largest change to collections since the service was handed back to the council. I’m very, very sorry for the disruption some residents have had.

“We will work to iron out any problems.”