The council has come under pressure to hold an inquiry into missed bin collections as residents across Barnet continue to report problems.

Labour environment spokesperson councillor Alan Schneiderman has called for an official investigation to determine the cause of the problems and whether any compensation is owed to the council, claiming contractors “mismanaged” the construction of a new waste depot.

A row over missed collections first broke out in the run-up to the May 3 local elections, when the Conservatives made keeping weekly collections a central pillar of their manifesto.

The council said the disruption was due to “vital operational works being carried out at the Oakleigh Depot”, which were due to be finished by April 23.

But Barnet residents have continued to report missed collections well into May.

Lauren Harmer, who lives on Friern Barnet Road, said: “It has been two consecutive weeks. On Bank Holiday Monday they didn’t turn up, and they didn’t turn up this week, either.

“We are in a block of flats, so there is a bin storeroom with six big commercial waste bins. I opened the door and there were bin bags up to my head everywhere. They have been opened by rats.

“It stinks. I can’t open my window, and even when it’s closed you can still smell the smell.

“We have complained to the council a few times, but no-one has turned up. Only yesterday I managed to get the email addresses of a few councillors and have emailed them directly. Now they say they are going to act on it.”

Christina Hora, who lives on Fairfield Way, added: “Once again, our black bins were not collected yesterday [Tuesday, May 15].

“The council’s website says there was no missed collection and they have no issues, although my whole road suffers from this. The bins overflow and stink in the heat. This is now the second time in over a month.”

Val Thompson, of Crocus Field, Dollis Valley, said: “I think it is happening all over the borough. We have not had a collection in nearly three weeks. The Conservatives were saying we will definitely pick them up every single week – they have not kept their promises.

“There are quite a few houses with bags outside. With the warmer weather, the bags are going to stink.

“I have tried to email the council, but I can’t get through on the email – it comes up that my email is not accepted.”

The Labour group claims to have had reports of missed collections in East Finchley, Woodhouse, Colindale and Coppetts.

Cllr Schneiderman has submitted a Member’s Item to the June 5 Environment Committee calling for an inquiry.

He said: “This bin fiasco has been going on for weeks now, and residents deserve to know the truth about what has happened. We were told the problems at Oakleigh Depot had been fixed, but now we learn there are still issues.

“The Barnet Conservatives presided over the disastrous relocation of the council’s waste depot to Oakleigh Road, South. They paid £9 million more for the site than it was worth, and they appointed Capita to procure and oversee the construction works at the site.

“The works were carried out by Wilmott Dixon but have been completely mismanaged and apparently are still not rectified.

“The Barnet Conservatives made weekly bin collections a central pillar of their local election campaign, but they are already failing on this pledge and it has only been a couple of weeks since the election.

“They cannot get anything right.”

A Barnet Council spokesperson said: “We have experienced some problems with routine refuse and recycling collections, as a direct consequence of the recent remedial works at Oakleigh Road Depot.

“This had meant that some of our refuse and recycling vehicles had to travel further, often in congested traffic conditions, to an alternative site in north London. We would like to apologise to residents for any inconvenience this has caused.

“Where possible, we made every effort to carry out these collections the following day. The works at Oakleigh Road have now been completed and we’re working hard to ensure that services are delivered to schedule.

“We would please ask that residents contact us via our website or call 020 8359 4600 if they experience any further issues concerning refuse and recycling collections.

“We’re aware that a request has been submitted for a members’ inquiry. This will be considered by Environment Committee members on Tuesday, June 5.”