STREET cleaners in Waltham Forest are set to ballot for strike action over allegations that their workload has tripled.

A preliminary ballot has already been held and workers could walk out in a matter of weeks.

A union source said: “There's been no easing up on the workload – it's still heavy and staff are still stressed.”

The source added that some workers had taken time off because of stress and one worker, Gary Doyle, claimed he had left his job with Kier because of it.

Mr Doyle, 40, of Chingford, said: “I've been working for two years for Kier and I loved the job – it was going great.

“Now they've left us with nothing – it's a nightmare.”

He added that he was no longer getting any job satisfaction and was able to clean 20 of the 70 streets he was allocated.

“I felt like I wasn't doing enough,” Mr Doyle said.

“They've brought in these machines and the machines are useless – they don't pick up the rubbish properly and you've got to go up and down the street five times sometimes.”

He added that he felt Kier was concentrating its efforts on some areas of the borough and not others.

Mr Doyle said: “In some areas, they're doing a great job because they're putting their minds to it but others haven't been touched for weeks.”

A spokeswoman for Kier stated the company would not be commenting on Mr Doyle's claims.

She said: “Kier is unable to discuss any information concerning individual employees, past or present, as this is of a confidential nature.”

Since taking over the contract in June 2008, staff working for Kier Street Services say their workload has risen from 20 streets each to 70 after the company laid off its agency workers.

They also claim they have suffered shortfalls and late payments of their wages, which Kier has consistently denied.

However, the company has not confirmed whether agency staff were removed and has said there is “no problem with completed work”.

The results of the strike ballot are due on July 7.