Dead end for workers. (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Dead end for workers.

OPERATIVES working for Cotswold District Council's waste division are being forced to use an old morgue as their base.

And because he has no base at all, their supervisor is working from his car, the council's Community Committee heard.

The committee agreed to ask the full council to consider whether or not it should buy a new depot site or, at least, a suitable building for use as a permanent base.

Waste manager Mike Wier reminded members in a report that the council had sold its former depot in Chesterton Lane for redevelopment, and had planned to share a site at South Cerney with waste contractors.

This decision had, however, been reviewed last September when councillors resolved instead to rehouse staff at the Chesterton cemetery lodge in Cirencester.

However, said Mr Wier, this move didn't take place either.

"The supervisor continues to operate from his car, and the four operatives are based at the old morgue at the cemetery," he said.

Equipment required by the division was stored a number of places across the district.

Mr Wier said that offices in Querns Road which were used by the depot manager and a number of administrative staff were currently being rented at an annual cost of £13,650.

"The staffing implications are that the direct labour services staff would, with a single operational base, be better able to provide the services that they do," he said.