THE impact of protest action by two men who scaled the cables of the QEII bridge on Monday morning and stayed there until they were removed this evening (Tuesday, 18 November) has included many missed waste bin collections across the borough.

The council had hoped this week would see the start of a new, much improved collection service after it took a two week break from full collections to 'reset' the service.

However, the huge traffic disruption caused by the closure of the QEII bridge meant no lorries were able to leave the council depot in Oliver Road in West Thurrock and there were significant problems today.

Crews have agreed to an early start tomorrow to tray and make a dent in the backlog.

This evening Cllr Andrew Jefferies, the portfolio holder for environment, told Thurrock Nub news: ""It is extremely unfortunate that we suffered the traffic disruption that we did yesterday and today, it could not have come at a worse time for us.

 "Yesterday we did not get a single lorry out. Today has been a bit better but even when we get the crews out they struggle to get back to the depot to drop off.  

"Crews have agreed to start work earlier tomorrow for which I am very grateful. 

"It has also affected the road sweeping crews and the winter maintenance crews that work out of Oliver Close.

"Coming after our reset, this is obviously frustrating but I am sure that we will be able to ctach up and I am hopeful we will be back to normal by next week having made up this new, unexpected backlog."