We, the undersigned, are frustrated by SODC’s inability or
unwillingness to respond to our frequent requests to sort out the
problems with the waste bins on Church Road. The bins are used by
visitors to the River Thames and are filled with used barbeques,
takeaway food containers, household rubbish from the boats moored
on the river, and, predominantly, dog poo. Most of the rubbish is
generated by people living outside the Parish.
The bins are unsightly, smelly and a serious health hazard; they
attract rats and foxes; their contents are frequently scattered
over the footpath and surrounding area. They are only 100 yards or
so from the pub/restaurant behind the hedge in the second
picture.
As we understand it, the Parish Council replaced the small bins,
which were often over full, with larger bins to try to stop them
overflowing. It appears that they did not realise that this might
create a worse problem, as now Biffa will not empty the larger
bins, claiming that they are not covered by their contract with the
Council.
Several of us have written to the Council, Biffa, SODC Councillors,
our MP and the Parish Council, but the problem remains after months
of correspondence. A major difficulty arises because it is not
possible to write directly to a Council Officer responsible for the
contract with Biffa. Biffa simply respond, “These bins are
not covered by our contract."
We obviously need someone to talk to the Council Officer who
commissions the work, not the contractor who provides it (or
doesn’t), but we have not been able to contact them. I
understand that the Parish is willing to contribute to the cost of
emptying the bins as they have done in the past. The present
arrangement is plainly unacceptable.
This ePetition ran from 08/10/2023 to 19/11/2023 and has now finished.
6 people signed this ePetition.