Council issues bins apology

The council has apologised for the inconvenience it caused by leaving bins strewn across pavements in the Brambles area.
A Brambles resident has complained about the way bins have been left around the neighbourhood after collections. INNT 24-607conA Brambles resident has complained about the way bins have been left around the neighbourhood after collections. INNT 24-607con
A Brambles resident has complained about the way bins have been left around the neighbourhood after collections. INNT 24-607con

Resident Stephen Barnes said he had contacted the council on numerous occasions to complain about the way bins were left after rubbish collections.

He said bins were left in such a way that they blocked the area’s pavements and caused potential health and safety problems for elderly and vulnerable people.

However, despite first raising the problem with the council almost a year ago, Mr Barnes said nothing has yet been done.

The 44-year-old IT consultant told the Times: “We are advised that when you leave your bin out you have to be considerate to other pavement users and not block the path.

“But when the bins are collected the binmen just leave them strewn across the pavement with no thought to the difficulties people may experience.

“Bins are left in such a way that the footpath is blocked at every empty set of bins.

“It is almost as if they are trying to deliberately block the footpaths.

“If the bins were being randomly flung around, there would not be such a consistency with the way they are left.”

“And as most people work through the day it is not until the evening that they are cleared away so people are forced to walk on the road, which obviously can be very dangerous.”

He went on: “Our footpaths are quite wide, so there is no real reason as to why they should be left in such a state.

“On morning I walked down our road and out of about 30 sets of bins which I passed, only two were passable without having to either move the bin, or walk on the road.”

He added: “I have contacted the council on numerous occasions, the first time around about a year ago.

“I contacted them through Twitter and each time they have promised to address the situation, but nothing has ever been done that I can see.

“Now that you have to leave both your black bin and brown bin out the problem is even worse.

“We are constantly drilled on the health and safety, but it seems the same rules do not apply to the council.”

In a statement, the council issued an apology.

It said: “The council has issued an apology for any inconvenience caused.

“An internal investigation into the issues reported is currently underway.”

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