RESIDENTS of Girvan are up in arms after South Ayrshire Council announced they will reduce the number of lorries used to collect rubbish.

This means that from Monday, April 11council employees will have to work round the clock to collect household waste and empty bins between 6am and 9:45pm from Monday to Friday.

Collection days are not expected to change and staff will be working the shifts to ensure bins are collected and that wast collection vehicles are used throughout the day.

The changes will also affect locals in Ayr and Maybole with the number of bin lorries in each area expected to be halved. Girvan folk fear that this will leave them with just two lorries to empty the whole town's trash.

Girvan Resident, Gordon Todd, said: "I am very concerned about these proposals. There have been more cuts enforced without consultation which is not practical. Folk are not amused as we pay enough taxes.

"My street is quite narrow. During the day when people are at work cars are not parked on the street which leaves plenty of space for bin lorries.

"But if they are not coming until night-time when people are back from work, this could result in serious damage to to cars parked outside houses.

"I feel that the council want to put a gate on each end of Girvan and bypass the lot of us."

Mike Newall, Head of Neighbourhood Services at South Ayrshire Council said: "The new round the clock collections will mean minimal disruption to householders and no staff redundancies. 

"We lease the majority of vehicles at a fixed rate, so it makes sense to use them as much as we can.

"The new shift pattern means staff will need access to bins at night so I would ask householders for their cooperation to ensure vehicles are parked with this in mind."

More information on the changes can be found at www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/household-waste or by phoning 0300 123 0900.