Bins are trashing BofA reputation

Regular eyesore in streets putting off visitors

Overflowing bins left out in Bridge of Allan are regularly creating an eyesore, according to one of the town’s councillors.

And business owners believe it is undermining all the hard work carried out to make the town a great place to visit and shop.

Councillor Douglas Dodds said the bins problem is particularly bad in Henderson Street.

He pointed out that it often stems from some residents and businesses failing to take their bins in quickly after rubbish has been uplifted by bin lorries.

The Dunblane and Bridge of Allan councillor explained: “Bins are regularly being left lying outside their premises.

“People walking in the street with takeaways see the bins and put their containers, some still with food in them, in the bins. However, they’re the wrong material for that particular bin.

“Once contaminated in this way the bins will not be uplifted by council bin men. They can be left for weeks at a time.

“The only way they will be unplifted is by making a call to Stirling Council waste services.

“It really spoils the look of the town but it’s not just Bridge of Allan. I’d say it’s a common problem across the Stirling Council area, particularly Stirling city itself.”

Gavin Bechelli from the Allan Water Cafe in Henderson Street said: “We use a private contractor to take away our waste.

“However, you do notice bins being left outside in the street for a long time.

“It’s perhaps the last thing you expect to see in a beautiful town like Bridge of Allan.

“A lot of work has been carried out to bring visitors to the town. It’s disappointing to see unsightly, overflowing bins which undermine all that effort.”

A Stirling Council spokesperson insisted that incidents where bins are not uplifted “are extremely rare”.

He added: “We would encourage residents and visitors to do the right thing and use the many street litter bins provided for their personal waste.

“We would also recommend that residents and business take in their bins when they are not due for collection to reduce the chance for passers-by to use them.

“Ultimately contamination is an issue that is bad for the environment and costs taxpayers money.

“If the wrong material is placed within an inappropriate bin then this can lead to a full load of recycling waste ending up in landfill. That’s something nobody wishes to see.

“If residents feel that they are having an issue with people using their bins inappropriately then they can get in touch with the council to highlight this.”