DENBIGHSHIRE COUNTY Council’s communication with residents and local politicians about its new waste collection scheme has been labelled an “affront to local democracy”.

The council has been accused of “rejecting” meetings with Vale of Clwyd MS Gareth Davies, who said he has requested them with relevant officers “since June”.

Mr Davies said his offer of a meeting “remains open” as it has for months.

He accused the council of “poor communications”, with residents “waiting hours on the phone to speak to someone” and the council “turning comments off their social media”.

Mr Davies said: “Usually as the local MS, you'd have a direct contact in the council who you'd be able to speak to about these concerns either via phone/emails or an old fashioned meeting.

“I have requested a meeting with the relevant officers about these specific matters since June, but my requests have so far been rejected.

“This is an affront to local democracy and the very people who the council serve.

“Particularly after the appalling rollout of the new service, poor communications, residents waiting hours on the phone to speak to someone, DCC turning comments off their social media.

“My offer of a meeting remains open as it has consistently for five months.

“But if you do have any individual concerns ongoing, then please contact me and I'll do all I can to help despite the lack of communication from Denbighshire.”

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Denbighshire County Council said it encouraged “open dialogue” with political figures and was open to meeting with Mr Davies.

The local authority defended the turning off of comments on its social media posts, putting this down to its team “not being able” to respond to comments during “Non-working hours”.

A Denbighshire County Council spokesperson said: “Every Denbighshire resident received an in-depth booklet before the rollout took place, explaining the changes in the service. Information has been regularly released as and when key information about the service needed to be distributed to residents.

“Measures such as bringing in additional call centre staff were also actioned to help communicate clearly and effectively to residents.

“Comments on social media posts were only turned off at times when the team were not able to answer the specific requests posted in the comments, for example, during non-working hours like over a weekend when social media channels were not monitored.

“Instead, residents were encouraged to raise their queries through the proper channels such as the call centre, to ensure they can get a report log number and open up an official enquiry regarding their query.

“We recently started to deliver the bins to new subscribers who have applied for the service since we reopened the subscription system, with the service starting for them in December. This has all been communicated via letter to residents.

“We encourage an open dialogue with all political figures, including councillors, MS's and MP's regarding any substantial changes within Denbighshire, and are open to meeting with Mr Davies again so that this matter can be discussed.”