Two petitions are calling for Camden to halt the fortnightly collections, amid concerns of fly tipping which will encourage foxes, vermin and ‘aggressive seagulls’

The rebellion against fortnightly rubbish collections has gathered momentum, with two petitions calling for Camden Council to go back to weekly collections, with the new regime starting this week.

Hampstead solicitor Jessica Learmond-Criqui and 341 other residents have handed in a petition to the council urging them to revert to the old collections, as their new policy ‘pits neighbour against neighbour.’

Ms Learmond-Criqui said: “There are already teething problems. Orange bags have not been delivered and people don’t know what dates their rubbish will be collected. There is fly tipping in Belsize Park already.”

Most of Frognal and Fitzjohns, Swiss Cottage, West Hampstead, Belsize, Gospel Oak, Hampstead Town, Highgate and Kilburn will have rubbish bins collected once a fortnight, while many wards in the south of Camden, including Bloomsbury, Regent’s Park, King’s Cross, St Pancras and Somers Town and Holborn and Covent Garden, will continue to be covered by weekly collections.

The petition states: “Penalising half of the borough to pay for the other half is not the answer to the recycling dilemma. Recycling is necessary in today’s world and should be encouraged.

“But the new policy pits neighbour against neighbour... This is unfair and divisive...

“There is also the danger of increased fly tipping which will encourage foxes, vermin and aggressive seagulls – yes, there are seagulls in Hampstead.”

A second petition, which is still gathering signatures online, argues: “Cutting weekly bin collections to once a fortnight will lead to a epidemic of fly-tipping, an explosion of rat infestations, and a deterioration of public health and the public realm.”

Cllr Merik Apak, cabinet member for sustainability and environment, previously said: “It costs the council far less to process recyclable materials, so by boosting recycling rates the council is not only helping the environment, but saving money.”

To sign the online petition against the fortnightly collections, visit here.