Editor’s Pick of the Week: Bin woe, bizarre prizes and Tesco roadworks

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Bank holiday weekends are notorious for messing up the bin schedule. But no more! That’s because many people’s bin schedules are already messed up after North Yorkshire Council moved to a four-day week for refuse workers.

The council apologised this week for “some issues” in the Harrogate district, where the number of missed collections has gone up by 87%. 

Curiously, the man in charge of the service said it started the roll-out of the four-day week in the Harrogate area “because we knew that would be our area of biggest challenge”.

Wouldn’t it have made more sense to test it in the easiest place first and learn lessons before moving to the trickiest area?

The council also said this week it had introduced drug tests for bin workers.

It was great to see Harrogate Harriers' under-17 boys relay team win silver at a national championship last weekend. 

But Stray Ferret staff have been scratching their heads all week at the podium photo showing the winners from Cambridge Harriers with what looks like a house plant and a soft toy. No wonder they don’t look overly thrilled.

Heard the one about the man who was arrested twice in one night? First by West Yorkshire Police and then by North Yorkshire Police in Harrogate. The prosecutor somewhat understatedly described it as an "unusual case". 

Finally, some praise for the council.

Anyone who uses the A61 to get in and out of Harrogate in the mornings will have enjoyed the almost zen-like calm on the roads during the school holidays. 

The Tesco roadworks this week threatened to change this.

With traffic diverted through Killinghall, North Yorkshire Council arranged for temporary traffic lights in the middle of the village to improve traffic flow. 

The lights arrived on Tuesday morning but were promptly taken away as traffic was actually moving smoothly. Credit to the council for coming up with a plan and then showing some flexibility when it wasn't necessary.

It will be back to the dice with death over New Park roundabout when schools reopen.