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28 Phonebox Magazine | January 2026Olney Ward Councillor CornerCllr Keith McLean Cllr Peter GearyCONTACT US: Keith: 07983 456081 keith.mclean@milton-keynes.gov.uk | Peter: 07774 939404 peter.geary@milton-keynes.gov.ukBin Emptying and Return of BinsSince writing the article in October%u2019s Phonebox we have been surprised about the number of people who have provided comments about experiencing problems with the non-return of bins. At the November MKCC Council meeting Keith asked the Cabinet Member responsible for Waste and Recycling how many reports of non-return of bins had been received since Suez took on the contract in September 2023 and what financial penalties had been applied to Suez? Keith also asked a more general question about all the occasions where Suez had not fulfilled their contractual obligations and the value of penalties related to these. This would include reported missed bin collections. The Cabinet member will provide the answers to Keith so they can be reported in a future edition of the Phonebox.If your bins are not returned to the location in which they were presented or not collected please use the Report It process on the MKCC website for %u2018Non-Return of Bins%u2019 or %u2018Missed Collections%u2019 respectively. If you prefer to send an e-mail, send it to customerservices@milton-keynes.gov.uk or you can call 01908 691691.Green Hill Solar FarmIn the past few weeks, the residents of Lavendon and some surrounding communities have been mobilising to express their opposition to the application for the solar farm. Whilst only a small part of the proposal would be in Lavendon and Warrington, the main concern is the potential impact on water flows. Lavendon is already subject to flooding, some flows coming from land adjacent to the proposed solar farm, which protestors believe would only get worse if the solar farm is developed.At a public meeting held in Lavendon Village Hall (pictured below), attended by approximately 80 people, attendees heard from the steering group that work performed by a professional hydrologist confirmed these fears that water run-off after heavy rain would exasperate flooding in the village. The steering group told the audience that they, with other villages within the proposed solar farm area, were trying to raise >%u00a330,000 to employ a specialist barrister to represent the villages in their opposition to the scheme.Lavendon Parish Council met on 8th December and decided to make formal representation against the proposal. The PC would have liked to see two fields close to Lavendon removed from the proposal, however as a PC they cannot require this to be done. As with the residents the PC is vehemently opposed to the proposal.41 Bus RouteIn November Milton Keynes City Council, along with West Northants and Bedford Borough Councils, retendered for the 41 bus route. This is good news as the route will now continue giving Olney and Lavendon links to Bedford and Northampton. We were however disappointed that this is only guaranteed for another year. Public transport really needs a longer-term solution than this, which is something that we will continue to push for so we do not have to keep fighting for it every year.Monthly Advice Surgeries: These are run in the Olney Centre on the first Friday of each month between 7pm and 8pm: appointments are not necessary. Alternatively, we can be contacted at other times by %u2018phone or email, our details are above.