Rubbish collections across Wycombe have “deteriorated”, concerned councillors have claimed – amid a raft of complaints from frustrated residents.

Wycombe District councillor Matt Knight, who represents residents in Micklefield, says he is getting “increased complaints” about the bin collection service, which is contracted out to Serco and has been for nearly seven years.

And he fears collection staff are having to “work late into the evening” to finish “perhaps unrealistic” rounds in the district.

Cllr Brian Pearce also raised concerns about inadequate collections in his ward – including in the “very narrow” Squirrel Lane in Booker and Gillfield Close in Cressex.

After receiving complaints from residents, Cllr Knight asked Cllr Julia Adey, who looks after the environment at the district council, if she found these negative changes in service acceptable.

At the last full council meeting before Christmas, held on December 19, Cllr Knight said: “Collections seem to be frequently missed, collection days have been changed without notice, the required location of bins to be placed for collection has been changed, again without notice, and damaged bins have not been replaced like for like.

“Increasingly it would appear that collection crews are having to work late into the evening in order to complete rounds which are perhaps unrealistic. This makes me concerned for staff welfare and safety.”

Cllr Adey said Serco teams have been experiencing a spiralling number of “difficult to access sites” that have bulk bins – because of “carelessly parked vehicles” blocking narrow roads.

This has meant they have had to go back to the area later in the day – and officers from the joint waste team have had to place signs, deliver letters and leave information on badly parked cars.

She said: “As the number of flatted developments has increased in the district, an additional collection resource has been introduced and changes have been made to bulk bin collections to try and re-balance collection rounds.

“Officers of the Joint Waste Team have tried to communicate changes but it can be a challenge to ensure that the message reaches every household affected.

“The changes that have been made recently were intended to improve service reliability, and they have been implemented in response to growing pressure on the bulk bin service in particular.”

She added that the welfare of staff collecting the bins is of “paramount importance”.

Cllr Pearce also asked for narrower collection vehicles to be used on smaller roads so bins can still be collected when roads are congested.

Cllr Adey added: “Even a narrow access vehicle can be defeated by careless parking and this is a perennial problem.

“The Joint Waste Team is currently trying to tackle a number of locations in Wycombe where access is difficult due to parked vehicles by working with affected residents, building owners and motorists.”

She said the council is not looking to buy any more bin lorries under their present contract.