Hills Municipal Collections has been made aware of a further allegation of a picketer being struck by a vehicle. All our vehicles have on-board camera recording systems and the alleged incident is being investigated and footage has been made available to the Police.

Hills have an excellent road safety record and take all health and safety matters very seriously. All our employees are fully aware of the recent update to the Highway Code. Clear guidance on crossing picket lines was issued to all Hills employees, customers and suppliers in advance of the industrial action.

This most recent alleged incident was reported to have taken placed on our Lower Compton site and is not identified by the GMB Union as a picket line location.

A Hills spokesperson said: “We are aware that there have been similar alleged incidents at other sites. We strongly request that organisers and supervisors of the pickets show respect to all parties’ safety and welfare. We are liaising with the Police over these incidents and will continue to review whether criminal and or civil laws are being breached and if so, what recourse is available to us.”

“In the instances referred to above people have been attempting to prevent vehicles from leaving Hills facilities, this is a breach of the regulations governing lawful picketing. Hills regret that we have had to resort to requesting Police assistance at our depots as this unnecessary waste of Police time and taxpayers’ money could be avoided if the actions of the picket lines had been conducted in accordance with picketing regulations. The vast majority of staff want to do the day’s work that they are paid for, and this type of action is stopping people who have a right to work.”

“We would encourage Hills employees who are on the pickets to distance themselves from the shameful behaviour seen at the sites in the past week. We are here to negotiate with the GMB Union when they are prepared to negotiate. All employees currently on the pickets will be welcomed back at work at any time.”

“The action on the picket lines restricting movement of our vehicles has impacted our ability to provide household waste collections services and we would like to thank the residents of Wiltshire for their understanding.”