A local authority says it is experiencing "issues" with missed bin collections due to waste contractor staff being off work.

Some households in Swale, covering Sittingbourne, Sheppey and Faversham, have not had their rubbish and recycling taken away – with employees 'self-isolating' as a precaution due to coronavirus.

A Swale council spokesman said: "We’re experiencing some issues with our waste collection services at the moment due to reduced numbers of staff at our waste contractor."

"If your waste has been missed, please leave your bin out and we’ll collect it as soon as possible."

He said that the Biffa employees were either self-isolating or off sick with other ailments and that outstanding collections from yesterday were being collected today.

"If any collections are missed today, crews will be out tomorrow so please leave your bin out as usual," he added.

In Canterbury, it was announced today that green waste collections would be stopped indefinitely from the start of next week.

Ill-health and self-isolation was to blame, a Canterbury City Council spokesman said.

Meanwhile, as of Monday next week, Swale council will be cutting its opening hours at its Sittingbourne and Faversham offices.

Swale House in East Street will open from 10am to 3pm from Monday to Friday, while the Faversham office will open from 9am to 12.30pm on Tuesday and Thursday.

Kent County Council has decided to close the Sheppey Gateway in High Street, Sheerness, to the public from Monday next week.

Staff will be available to take telephone calls.

By-elections for Warden Parish Council on Thursday, April 9, and the Priory and Watling wards of Faversham Town Council on Thursday, May 7, have been postponed.

"We will provide new dates when they are decided," the spokesman said.

The Kent Police and Crime Commissioner elections due to take place on Thursday, May 7 have also been postponed.

Swale council officers are working remotely and council meetings are being scaled back to only those it is legally required to continue.

The authority is still awaiting government advice on running those remotely – either online or by phone.

Cllr Roger Truelove (Lab), leader of the council, said: "These are serious times and we – officers and members of the council – will do all that is possible to protect people from this virus and maintain the services and decision-making that we have to do.

"Over the last few weeks, we have been preparing for the potential impact on the borough.

"We are already working with our partners across the public sector as part of the county-wide response to the outbreak and we will continue to support each other throughout this crisis. We must also think about how we, as members of our communities, can support each other.

"When friends and neighbours are isolated, we need to support them too. Practical things, like help with shopping, can be a lifeline but something as simple as a phone call to let them know someone cares can be a great morale boost.

"Our local businesses that employ thousands of people across the borough will most likely be affected and it’s vital we all support them however we can.

"We don’t know when this will end but we do know that it will and I want us to know we did everything we could to help each other through this difficult time."

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