Free Bulky Bobs collections on the increase

Councillor Howard Sykes, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council

Councillor Howard Sykes, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council, has welcomed the news that there have been more free Bulky Bobs collections in the first ten months of 2018 than in the same period in 2017.

This improvement has been the result of Councillor Sykes raising his concerns with the former Council Leader.

Bulky Bobs was reappointed contractor for the service at the start of this year, and it was promised there would be more promotion of the free service.

Councillor Sykes said: “This important free service was not being publicised by Oldham Council to those that were eligible for it - it was one of the best free deals that no one could see.  I only came across it by chance. 

"Eligible residents include those who qualify for an assisted bin collection, or who have a physical disability, are infirm because of their age, or are pregnant.”

Numbers obtained by Councillor Sykes show that there were 84 free collections between January and October 2017, but 148 between January and October 2018 - nearly doubling.

However, the request for a free collection can only be booked by telephone.

Councillor Sykes is disappointed that there seems to be no online service.

He added: “I am glad that the promotion is starting to work. 

"We need to continue to get the message out to those who are eligible to take up the free service. 

"However, I cannot understand why in this day and age when increasingly people access all kinds of services on-line, including more and more council services, that there is no dedicated email address/web form to which a request a collection from Bulky Bobs.

“This is hardly a major channel shift.

“I would urge Bulky Bobs and Oldham Council to get with the 21st Century and advertise at least a dedicated email address for booking, and for now I can only urge anyone who is eligible for a free collection of bulk items to please ring 0161 770 6644.”

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