THREE bags of garden waste have finally collected by Swindon Council after an 18-day wait.

This is despite Kevin Coleman, of Bayleaf Avenue, Haydon Wick, putting the waste out on the correct collection day.

And, now Labour councillor Kevin Small (Western) wants to know how much money this mess has cost the taxpayer since the new rubbish and recycling scheme was launched on April 4.

Mr Coleman, 41, put his garden rubbish outside his house to be collected on April 6, and there it remained.

The account manager said: "I phoned the council and was told someone would ring me back but they didn't."

Mr Coleman carried on phoning the council, asking for the rubbish to be collected, but still nothing happened.

He said: "I was absolutely fuming, I was livid.

"I wasn't angry at the fact it was left so much as the fact they didn't do anything when I asked them to move it."

There have been problems across Swindon since the new scheme was launched.

Angry residents have said the council needs to sort out its act.

Mr Coleman said the bags have left a mess on his grass and moss has started to grow where they were.

He said: "The council said they had my street down as Bayleaf Way and not Bayleaf Avenue.

"I find it very strange, there's a lack of communication between the council and the people who pick the rubbish up."

Mr Coleman is not happy with the apology issued by council leader, Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town & Lawns), last week.

Then Coun Bawden said all problems would be sorted out within 48 hours.

Mr Coleman said: "I like honesty. The council need to say we've messed up and got it seriously wrong and do something to put it right. I don't think the apology the council issued was good enough."

And there are still problems in Chiseldon. John Legg, of Chisledon Court, had a recycling box delivered on April 5.

But it has never been collected despite being full of waste paper.

The retired 72-year-old said: "I'm getting so annoyed. It's a lousy service. The whole thing is a mess up. The council ought to be aware where they have put the boxes."

Coun Small thinks the council should now admit how much these problems have cost the taxpayers.

He said: "I have heard a rumour it's in the region of £10,000."

Sarah Deacon, a spokeswoman for Swindon Council said: "We can confirm that there has been no extra cost to sort out the glitches at the beginning of the new scheme.

"Unfortunately Bayleaf Avenue was one of the roads that suffered problems at the start of the changes but have now been rectified and the green waste was collected yesterday (Wednesday).

"We will investigate the situation at Chiseldon Court but are confident any problems in this road will be rectified swiftly."