COUNCIL officials have defended a decision to stop refuse collectors emptying people's bins in Darlington.

The decision to ask residents to put their rubbish on the roadside, in front of their homes, was criticised by some people, who said they had not been consulted about the change.

Until now, people living in terraced houses have put their rubbish in the lane behind their homes, while many others have simply left their bins to be emptied by the council's collectors.

Terraced house residents will not be affected by the changes, but everyone else in the town will be asked to put their rubbish in the street on collection day.

A council spokesman said: "This is in line with what most other local authorities are doing. At the moment, we have bin men walking all over to locate people's rubbish, which wastes time. The new system will save money without cutting the service, and all money saved will be redirected back into other initiatives like kerbside recycling."

But some residents have complained about the new scheme.

Carol Lambird, chairman of the Springfield Tenants' and Residents' Association, said: "As an association we have not been consulted, which is disgusting. This has implications for all sorts of people. People who work nights and carers who have enough to do already.

"What about disabled people and those who can't carry their rubbish bags around?

"Some people just throw their rubbish in the bin, but will now have to buy black bags. People will forget to put their rubbish out and it will mount up.There are too many questions that just haven't been answered."