Lewisham Conservative members have slammed the council over its rubbish collection consultation which could mark the end of a weekly service in the borough.

The Tories claim residents will suffer because of the council’s "poor record on recycling" as the local authority tries to meet the government’s target of recycling or reusing 50 per cent of waste by 2020.

As of January this year the council's recycling rate stood at just 17 per cent, compared to 44 per cent in the neighbouring borough of Bromley.

Mayor of Lewisham Steve Bullock is due to make the final decision in January after the council’s Let’s Talk Rubbish consultation which has now closed.

But Adam Thomas, Conservative London Assembly candidate for Greenwich & Lewisham, claims the consultation didn’t give residents enough information about the changes and how they would be affected.

The Blackheath resident said: “I don't see how the Mayor can make a decision based on the consultation.

“If the council does plough ahead with significant changes they need to communicate this to residents and ensure that the transition is properly managed.”

News Shopper:

Lewisham Council's Let's Talk Rubbish consultation document delivered to homes in the borough.

Almost all of the six options proposed, with the exception of keeping the current weekly service, would see changes to the collection schedule.

Some of the options involve using six different containers to get rid of rubbish, garden waste, food waste, and recycling.

Downham resident David Davis, who has lived in the borough for over forty years, expressed his concerns.

The 88-year-old said: “It didn’t feel like a proper consultation – there’s been no details on how the service will change and most of all no one has said how much it might cost us. “All we know is that there will definitely be a shift from fortnightly collections.”

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A spokeswoman for Lewisham Council said the local authority was pleased with consultation after more than 6,000 residents responded.

She told News Shopper: "These views will be taken into account before any decision is made.

"In the consultation we were seeking views on a range of options that could help us recycle more.

"As Government funding to the council continues to fall, it is essential that any options we choose will need to be affordable and offer real value for money while showing that we are contributing to the national target to recycle, reuse or compost 50% of all waste."

Will you be affected? Get in touch with your views by emailing Jessica.bell@london.newsquest.co.uk.