'Nightmare' bins block pavements despite crackdown

Residents living on a street in Derby say bins obstructing pavements are still a "huge issue" despite a new council scheme.

Derby City Council said in May that fines would be issued to people leaving their bins out unnecessarily, but a Freedom of Information (FOI) request found that as of June 11, zero fines had been issued.

Mary Lynne Gibson, 69, who has lived in Stepping Lane in Derby for 39 years, said she was "absolutely fed up" with the rubbish, adding it was attracting vermin.

A spokesperson for the council said there had been a "significant reduction" in bins being left out since the launch of the scheme, and two fines had been recently issued.

Residents said the ongoing problem raised a number of concerns, including safety and vermin.

Ms Lynne Gibson added: "It's a big issue. A nightmare.

"I've got grandchildren who go to the nursery. You can't get a double push chair down the pavement. Some places you can't get a single push chair down the pavement.

"You can't get a mobility scooter up and down and you are knowingly putting children at risk by having to use the road.

"We've seen rats around and we never had that before.

"This has been going on for probably 10 to 15 years."

One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "It's a huge issue. When you have a single push chair and you're walking up the street, all the bins on almost all the houses are out.

"A lot of the time I have to walk on the road, and I've got an autistic daughter who's seven. For her, it's a big problem.

"She ends up having a big meltdown, and when you try to walk in the road the cars are usually doing 40mph. It's not safe at all."

Andy Broughton, 61, who has lived in Stepping Lane for 16 years, said: "We had letters about eight years ago and things got better.

"Then came the elections, change of people in charge at the council house and it all went backwards again. It's a disgrace."

Mackworth and New Zealand councillor Gaurav Pandey questioned the council's approach at tackling the problem.

He said: "I'm not in favour of this process. We should bring out a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which will mean that anyone leaving the bins outside will get fined.

"But it's not a problem specific to our ward. We need wider consultation on this and we need to treat this problem as a complex one."

Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, city council cabinet member for streetpride, public safety and leisure, said: "Public Protection Officers have been enforcing Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 on a small number of streets in the city. The streets involved in the pilot have seen a significant reduction in bins being left out, with 89% of households now complying.

"The pilot process involves engagement with residents, education and enforcement, which must take place within set timeframes. We are now at the point where enforcement action can be taken, which includes issuing fixed penalty notices – two of which have been issued this week. We will continue to carry out enforcement action where appropriate."

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