BOURNEMOUTH council’s “outstanding” waste collection and recycling department has been unfairly maligned in a row over uncollected rubbish, according to a senior councillor.

Cllr Michael Filer, cabinet member for waste and recycling, spoke out to defend the council following the Echo’s story about uncollected rubbish at a block of flats at Sea Road, Boscombe.

Some residents claimed that rubbish had not been collected for seven weeks but Cllr Filer said there was a detailed log of collections which proved this was incorrect.

The records show the property missed two recycling collections and three refuse collections over a spell of three weeks, he said.

He said the problem started because there was rubbish on the floor blocking access.

The council repeatedly informed the managing agents and was told the matter would be dealt with. But the rubbish was not cleared and the problem escalated.

Council crews cleared the rubbish at 5.30am last Thursday and had to use shovels to access the bin.

Cllr Filer said: “Bournemouth is the number one local authority in the country for recycling so to see a story like this is upsetting and, I feel, misleading.

“We would not be able to maintain this record if we did not provide an outstanding service.

“Clearly something has gone wrong here but it is not as bad as residents might be led to believe and it has all been sorted out now.”