Christmas trees in Wandsworth still waiting to be collected by council

It is a familiar site in January – our streets being strewn with discarded trees after the yuletide festivities.

But while these forlorn and unwanted bits of vegetation usually disappear quite quickly – as if by magic – Wandsworth has been accused of taking too long.

The Wandsworth Tories say the local authority has missed two deadlines for the Christmas tree collection service, having originally said the collection would be complete by Monday, January 16.

The council then put the deadline back to this Monday (January 23), but one day after the new deadline, Christmas trees remained scattered across the borough.

Piles of trees have apparently been reported across Battersea, Balham, Wandsworth Common and Tooting, making life unacceptably difficult for residents with buggies or mobility difficulties. 

Councillor Jonathan Cook, Wandsworth Conservatives spokesman for the environment, said: “This whole situation is a joke, and not a funny one.

“The council failed to collect the trees when the Labour administration originally said it would, and has now missed its second deadline. 

“The council should just be honest, admit it has failed, and explain when the collection will be completed and how this fiasco will not be repeated next year.” 

A Wandsworth council spokesman said: “We would like to offer apologies to residents who have been inconvenienced as a result of not having their Christmas tree picked up.

“There have been delays to collections, but residents can rest assured that our contractor will continue collecting unwanted trees until all have been collected.

“This is unfortunately an annual problem that affects many councils that offer this type of service.

“There have been unacceptable failings by our contractor and we will be holding a review to ensure service for our residents is vastly improved.”

Pictured top: Piles of trees outside St Anne’s Church in central Wandsworth (Picture: Harry Todd/Wandsworth Conservatives)