CHANGES to bin collections have been slammed as ‘a backward step’ by a Cawthorne parish councillor.

Coun Sharon Pitt is complaining about a Barnsley Council decision to stop collecting rubbish other than from bins left by kerbs.

“They won’t go up private drives or farm tracks,” she told the council’s annual meeting.

“There are five homes where I live in Woolstock Lane and we have had an inconsistent service. We were missed out for two months.

“All bins are to be taken down to the road. I gather this is a scheme being rolled out across the borough because operatives no longer leave the public highway on health and safety grounds.

“Two large bins have been put at the bottom of the lane, but it means we have to take everything down to them and all wheelie bins have been taken away.”

Coun Eric Ellis said: “We have taken rubbish to the end of our lane for years.”

Coun Pitt said: “Surely this is a backward step as far as recycling is concerned.”

It was agreed to contact Penistone Area Council member and borough councillor Robert Barnard about the issue.