Humble binmen provided the best service during the coronavirus pandemic, survey reveals

Almost 90 per cent of people who took part in The News’s Big Conversation survey said the humble binman had provided a good service during lockdown.

Out of the 1,044 people to have responded, a whopping 532 – 50.96 per cent – rated refuse services as very good, while 405 – 38.79 per cent – hailed the work as ‘good’.

The result puts rubbish collectors at the top of the table for the best local services, above hospitals, transports and social care.

The emergency services were the second-highest rated in the survey, with almost 60 per cent of people judging them positively, with more than a quarter – 26.25 per cent – hailing it as ‘very good’.

Business support was also judged to be strong across the area, with more than 58 per cent of people giving positive feedback.

Meanwhile, more than half (54.98) rated hospitals as either good or very good, placing the health facilities as the area’s fourth-best.

Other people were disappointed by social care services, with one in five (21.84 per cent) branding them either as ‘not good’ or ‘not good at all’.

Public transport also rated poorly, with 18.87 per cent of people - 197 residents saying they were disappointed in the service during the coronavirus pandemic.