Warning to people who leave buckets out on street
People in part of the city centre who fail to take in their waste and recycling bins in have received a warning.
Stirling North councillor Jim Thomson said a crackdown on bins permanently left out was underway in Wallace Street, Bruce Street and Union Street. People who breach rules regarding bins face fines of up to £1000. CouncillorThomson was speaking at a meeting last Thursday of Mercat Cross and City Centre Community Council.
There were complaints at the meeting of residents’ being disturbed by revellers kicking over bins left in the street.
Councillor Thomson said the deployment of portable CCTV cameras in the Top of the Town could help tackle problems such as late-night disturbance.
He admitted they needed to“get better”at enforcment and making sure residents took bins in after they were emptied. He said enforcement officers were already focussing on one of the worst areas, near Tesco’s in Wallace Street.
Later he told the Observer: “In Wallace Street, some residents leave their bins out overnight and pedestrians have to walk in the road. We have already been in touch with residents inviting them to take the bins in, If that fails then we will have to get their landlords to deal with it.“
Many have pointed the finger at students – living in houses of multiple occupancy in the streets around Tesco’s – for the problem.
Councillor Thomson said it was “not always fair to blame students” but he added that the bin problems in Wallace Street and Union Street had become particularly bad there.
Under section 46 of the
Environmental Protection Act 1990, the ultimate sanction which can be applied by a council for a householder who fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with any requirements, such as leaving bins on the street after collection or bin contamination, could be a fine of up to £1000. However, Stirling Council officials say they work directly with all householders to resolve issues regarding incorrect presentation without enforcement. Where persistent contamination of recycling bins occurs, bins may also be removed.