‘Smelly bins driving away my customers’
Access and rubbish are problem for Baker Street traders
Business owners in one Stirling street are claiming that forgotten bins are driving away customers.
Angry traders say Baker Street has been blighted by the wheelie bins strewn across the street for several days at a time.
They believe the presence of the refuse-filled bins could potentially cause a serious health hazard.
Stacey Mackrell, from Beau Boutique, based in Baker Street for the last two years, remains uncertain whether she will renew her lease once it expires.
She said: “I have complained to Stirling Council numerous times about this. They collect the bins from directly outside my shop and I often find beer cans and food lying everywhere.
“In summer it can get really bad. I can’t open the door because the smell is so bad I don’t want my customers smelling that. I can’t get rid of the small fruit flies.
“The bin men also like to leave the bins all across the pathway for days on end.
“It’s becoming a huge bugbear for myself and the surrounding shop owners as we cannot get access to our shops some mornings without having to move all of the bins away, never mind having to trail through tedious amounts of waste littered on the streets and pick it up ourselves, which may I add is obviously adding to the infestation we seem to get on the street with the fruit flies and the sightings of rats.
“This is a complete health hazard and is completely unfair to us small businesses as it does affect our livelihood in loss of business.
In summer it can get really bad. I can’t open the door because he smell is so bad
addresses in question will then receive a letter advising them of the responsibilities they have with regard to the protocols for bin collection.
“If they do not adhere to these requirements, then the residents in question could eventually receive a Section 46 notice.”
Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 deals with the collection of household waste and provides powers for the council to serve notice on an occupier requiring them to place household waste for collection in receptacles of the type and number specified.
Failure to comply can result in a fine.