‘Bins stink and are an eyesore’ say Grantham neighbours

People living next to 60 bins which are left outside near their homes 24 hours a day say they are an eyesore and in warmer weather they stink.

Joanne Toulson, of Harrowby Road, whose flat looks over the bins, said: “It does get worse in the warmer weather. The smell of them is disgusting and the flies are swarming everywhere. You can’t put your washing out or sit out in the garden. We used to have a lovely view from here but not anymore.”

The bins are for the use of people living at River View Maltings.

Neighbour Mick Crowley, 64, who has lived at his address for 12 years, said: “There is a smell and the noise can be constant when people are chucking their stuff in the bins. There are no recycling bins and there is lots of carboard being left over there. When the bins get full, the lids are open which makes it worse.”

Keith Rowe, South Kesteven District Council Business Manager for Streetcare Services, said: “All customers are responsible for bringing bins out to the edge of their property ready for collection. How this is arranged in grouped complexes is down to the site managers.

“We have been in lengthy discussions with the management at River View Maltings to try and achieve regular collections at the site.

“Our vehicles have found it extremely difficult to gain access due to the number of cars parked on Bridge Street and a security post positioned in the centre of the access gate to the site. This resulted in crews having to make repeated visits.

“Options were put forward to the site management to try and solve the situation. These included moving the post, bringing the bins to the gate each collection day and looking for an alternative collection point. They went for a different collection location.

“The bins are stored on the car park at River View Maltings and are a sufficient distance from neighbouring properties so as not to be a nuisance.”

Ward councillor Charmaine Morgan says the situation is ‘intolerable’ for the neighbours.

Coun Morgan said: “I totally share the view of the Harrowby Road residents that it is unacceptable to expect someone to live with over 60 bins in plain site of their home.

“I met Keith Rowe and argued his solution had an unreasonable impact on residents nearby. He disagreed and refused to revisit his position. The new location also requires SKDC bin men to collect 60 waste bins on the corner of Harrowby Road and Bridge End Road. This blocks pedestrian right of way on a dangerous junction forcing pedestrians into the road and affects visibility of vehicles turning left from Bridge End Road into Harrowby Road.

“I am not giving up and will continue until we get an acceptable solution.”