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Wheelie bins 'a blight' on historic town centre

Duncan Cook
BBC News Gloucestershire
BBC A photo showing a green wheelie bin next to a red brick wall and grey lamp post. In the background are the front of a number of houses in TewkesburyBBC
Tewkesbury Civic Society says the wheelie bins are 'unsightly'

A petition has been started to pressure a council to issue fines and control the number of bins left on the street of an historic town.

Tewkesbury's Civic Society has said the bins are spoiling a conservation area, and suggested homes should only be allowed wheelie bins if they can store them off-road.

It also wants the council to provide screened areas for bins when storage is not possible.

Chair Alan Purkiss said the society wanted to protect the town's conservation area, adding: "We've got a lovely heritage of listed buildings, alleys and the riverside and it's been degraded somewhat by domestic and commercial bins."

A photo of a main with white hair standing in Tewkesbury. He is wearing glasses and a grey and white shirt. He is stood in front of a building with brown timbers, white walls and a green window frame
Alan Purkiss wants the council to "make fines a possibility"

Mr Purkiss said it is becoming a real problem, with bins "prolific" on some of the smaller streets in Tewkesbury.

"There's lots of people living in town these days and it's not nice for them, it's certainly not nice for visitors. Would you want to take a photo of a nice building and have a bin in front of it?" he said.

"We would like to see the authority actually make fines a possibility, as once fines exist, people's habits change."

"For people with a genuine need for putting a bin somewhere, it can be handled with the blue bag policy or some kind of community facility - there are ways you can handle it. There needs to be a deterrent."

A photo showing a woman with blonde hair. She is wearing a white top and light blue cardigan, she is also wearing a heart shaped necklace. She is stood in front of a shop front with a man and woman walking past in the background
Debbie Whitfield said the town "needs to look pretty again"

Resident Debbie Whitfield, 61, said she agreed the bins look unsightly, but said issuing fines was too strong a measure.

"I think they should be moved, the town needs to look pretty again," she said.

"I don't think it should go that far [issuing fines], but they should be warned by the council if they're not removed."

A photo of a white man wearing sun glasses and a wide brimmed hat and a white t-shirt. He is stood in front of a car with a street to his right, with two women walking towards him
Trevor Bunt said Tewkesbury "doesn't have enough places for bins any more"

Another resident Trevor Bunt, 63, said he was concerned about where the bins would be stored.

"It's a good idea, but Tewkesbury is a small place and they don't have enough places for bins any more," he said.

"In theory, yes, it would be nice if they were out the way, but they need a solution first."

The petition has been signed by nearly 240 people, and will be discussed by Tewkesbury Borough Council on Tuesday 23 June.

Council officers said enforcing the issues within the petition is "a heavy-handed approach" and would take "additional resource to do so".

They have recommended the council supports the petition organiser in his efforts to take a community led approach to the issue.

Cllr Murray Stewart, Lead Member for Environmental Services said: "We are fully committed to working with our communities and stakeholders to find a mutually agreeable solution for all and for the council's need to manage waste and recycling."

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