A petition against changes to the borough’s bin rounds has passed the threshold needed to trigger a debate at full council.

The new petition, which calls for a re-think of plans to cut waste and recycling collections to once a fortnight, now has more than 3,300 signatures.

Under Enfield Council’s rules, petitions need to be signed by more than 3,124 residents (1 per cent of the borough’s population) to trigger a debate at full council.

A previous petition against the bin round changes was signed by more than 6,500 people – but many signatures were deemed invalid because they did not include people’s full addresses.

The council’s top decision-makers agreed in February to move blue and black bin rounds from once a week to once a fortnight from next spring.

The council says the move will help to boost the borough’s recycling rate to almost 50 per cent and save £7.5 million over five years that can be used to protect key frontline services such as children’s and adults’ social care.

But the new petition, which was set up by Palmers Green resident Seraphim Leonidas, brands the move to fortnightly collections “unacceptable” and a “stealth tax”.

An Enfield Council spokesperson said: “The number of signatures required for petitions to trigger a debate at Full Council is 3,124.

“The bins petition is still active, due to close on August 27. Once the petition is closed and any verification that is required is undertaken, the council will endeavour to consider the petition at its next Council meeting which is on September 18, 2019.”

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