RESIDENTS are slamming a council for changing their refuse collections.

Sevenoaks District Council has changed the weekly refuse collection days in the district and is asking residents to put out their sacks for 7am.

In Garrolds Close, Swanley, the day has changed from a Thursday to a Wednesday and residents have been warned not to put their rubbish out the night before due to the amount of foxes in the area.

Councillor Terri Woodbridge, of Swanley Town Council, lives in the close and said: “It’s very unfair of the council to expect OAPs and disabled residents to get up before 7am, just to put out rubbish bags.

“If the council had invested in wheelie bins then these could be left out overnight without the foxes spreading the rubbish everywhere.”

Mrs Woodbridge’s neighbour Shelia Goss has had two hip replacements and says she finds it difficult to get out in time.

The 80-year-old said: “I’m very angry.

“I’m not going to get up at that time in the morning, no way.

“They should give us proper bins, it’s ridiculous.”

A spokesman for the council told News Shopper that to provide refuse bins, collection vehicles would need to be adapted and would cost taxpayers in excess of £1 million.

He added: “In a comprehensive review, residents were asked if they would prefer bins or a weekly collection of sacks.

“The majority of residents asked for the latter.

“However, residents can provide their own rubbish bins should they wish to do so.”