Rubbish changes dumped for now
Sunderland City Council has called a meeting to hear residents’ concerns about a proposed new system where bins need to be dragged to the end of an ‘uneven’ back lane for collection.
Households on Gertrude Road, Houghton, were left “angry” and “frustrated” after receiving letters from the local authority asking them to drag their bins to the southern end of the back lane for collection following a risk assessment.
Theletterstatedthatrefuse collection teams had reported “increasing difficulty” with servicing bins down the back lane due to it being “unmade” and “severely rutted”.
Works to rectify problems would need to be privately funded due to the lane being “unadopted” as the council has no responsibility to maintain it.
But now, after further consultation with ward councillors, Sunderland City Council has postponed the new collection changes and a meeting with residents is being organised to hear their concerns.
Resident Debbie Lewis Atwill said: “We are all going to attendthemeetingtoshareour
concernsbutI’mnotsurewhat is going to be done.
"It can’t go on like this, the new system is ridiculous – 23 bins at the end of the lane is an accident waiting to happen, it would be complete chaos. I justhopewecangetsomething sorted.”
At the time, a risk assessment carried out by the council found “no alternative given therisktotheoperative’ssafety and well-being”.
Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council and Cabinet MemberfortheEnvironment, CllrClaireRowntree,said:“Unfortunately, this unadopted back lane has deteriorated so much that refuse collection teams and their vehicles cannotperformtheirdutiessafely.
“Collection teams had raised concerns about the lane and how it was becoming increasinglyunsafe.Thecouncilhadadvisedhouseholdsthat from the end of this month wheelie bins can no longer be collected from the back lane.
“As a listening council, and as we have advised residents, weareopentofurtherdialogue and discussions on how we resolve this issue.
“Following further consultation with ward councillors, the collection changes have been postponed. A meeting with residents is being organisedtohearmoreontheirconcerns and hopefully agree an amicablewayforward.Allresidentshavereceivedaletteradvising them of this.”