NEARLY 700 people have signed a petition calling for Torfaen council to stop its consultation on changing black bin collections in the borough.

Torfaen council has identified three options for the future of bin collections in Torfaen and residents are now able to say which they prefer as part of a consultation.

But 682 people have signed a petition, set up by New Inn resident Barry Jones, calling for the council to cease the current consultation.

It demands that the council enters into consultation with residents with no pre-set options.

He said: "I do not think the options are practical for residents and there are problems with each of them.

"There are other options available that the council could look into and residents should have the chance to voice these."

Writing on the petition page Dianne Alford, from Cwmbran, said: “I already have problems with fly tipping at the bottom of my garden. I don't want to see this increase with general household waste.”

Torfaen council has said it decided to restrict the amount of general waste it collects to encourage more people to recycle.

It says that while the bulk of household waste can now be recycled at the kerbside, a huge amount of recyclable material is placed in the black bin.

The council is asking residents to choose between three options:

• Maintaining a fortnightly collection with a replacement smaller black wheelie bin. The bin, which would hold 140 litres, would be supplied free of charge by the council.

• A fortnightly collection of two refuse bags per household. The bags would be provided free of charge by the council.

• Moving to a monthly collection using the existing 240 litre black wheelie bin.

A dedicated collection for nappies will continue to be available and allowances will also be made for additional waste at Christmas and New Year.

Recycling collections, assisted collections, and medical collections will also continue to operate.

From 2015/16, recycling targets in Wales will increase from 52 per cent to 58 per cent, and councils will be fined in the region of £100,000 for every one per cent they fall below these targets.

To take part in the consultation visit https://mysay.torfaen.gov.uk

Road shows are currently taking place. One will be held today at Pontypool Tesco, another on Friday at Cwmbran Morrisons, with others at the World Heritage Centre on June 24 and at Cwmbran Shopping on June 27.