Pensioner’s anger at £75 bin charge
A pensioner who had three bins stolen from his home is outraged after being told he will have to pay £75 to replace them.
Les Barber, 74, says his home, in Gladstone Terrace, Houghton, was targeted by a group of vandals who stole his black, blue and green bins and set fire to them on Friday, October 6.
The grandfather-of-seven, who is recovering from stomach cancer, has been in touch with the fire service and police who attended the incident, but on contacting Sunderland City Council for replacement bins he says he had to pay £25 per bin.
Mr Barber said: “I live opposite New Penshaw Park and over the last few years we have been plagued by anti-social behaviour, with gangs stealing bins and setting them on fire.
“I phoned the council on Monday and spoke to the City and Neighbourcollected hood Department and told them what had happened, but they said I had to pay £25 per bin.
“I am a pensioner and Christmas is coming – I can’t afford to pay £75 for new bins.”
Mr Barber, who lives with his wife Yvonne, 60, said he asked if he could pay in instalments, but says he was told he had to pay a one-off fee.
He asked what would happen if he put his rubbish in bags and left them outside his property, but was told they would not be if they were not in a bin.
The retired packaging engineer added: “This is the second time our bins have been stolen over the last year or so and last time I didn’t have to pay to replace them.”
A Sunderland City Council spokesman said: “We are still looking into the situation.”
A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: “Any witnesses can ring 101 quoting reference 365 071017, or crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”