Woman’s bins were not emptied for SIX weeks
A DUNBEG resident was left with four bins full of rubbish for six weeks because inconsiderate drivers blocked the way of the refuse lorry trying to collect it.
Those living in the cul- de-sac at the corner of Lorn Road have had to wait for their bins to be uplifted because the lorry isn’t able to turn because of cars parked on the corner.
Elizabeth McDougall’s house has been bypassed on multiple occasions and she has had to wait for up to six weeks in the past. A smaller lorry had to be used recently for her bins to be emptied.
Ms McDougall said: ‘I have lived here for a year-and-a-half and there have been a couple of occasions when they [the bins] have not been emptied for five to six weeks and they can get a bit stinky. It’s no one’s fault as such. It’s not the same person every week, but if someone parks their car on the corner, the bin lorry can’t reverse out of the cul- de-sac.
‘The one time it wasn’t emptied for five to six weeks, the bin men came out every day to try and eventually came out in the smaller lorry, like they did last week. It’s a pain for them. It’s extra hours and extra work.
‘It’s just a badly designed village and there are too many cars. Obviously when the village was built, there weren’t many cars.’
A spokesman for Argyll and Bute Council said: ‘There is an ongoing issue where irresponsibly parked vehicles prohibit the safe access of our bin lorry. We don’t have the manpower, resources or time for our staff to walk up the road and bring the bins down.
‘To clear the backlog, we used a smaller lorry to specially service the bins on Saturday but this won’t be possible in the long term.
‘ We will be writing to residents to keep the area clear or to bring their bins to the end of the street if it is blocked. It should also be noted that, if the road is blocked, it would also prohibit access for emergency vehicles.’
Sean MacIntyre, chairman of Dunbeg Community Council, said: ‘In a time of austerity, when the council is trying to save money, how can it find the time and money to spend on overtime and on sending out another bin lorry, but doesn’t have the resources or time for staff to walk up the road?
‘It’s going to get worse when the bins are moved to being uplifted every three weeks. The street is already tight during the day. How are they going to get down at 7pm?’
Iain Maclean, Oban North and Lorn councillor, said: ‘The shortterm solution would be to place a couple of bollards on the corner on a Wednesday evening or even a sign.
‘A more structured solution would be to have yellow lines, but as far as I’m aware it’s only a problem on a Thursday morning.’
Julie McKenzie, Oban North and Lorn councillor, added: ‘Following a complaint from the chairman of Dunbeg Community Council last Friday morning, I contacted senior officers in the amenity services department and I’m pleased to say the problem was quickly resolved by front-line council staff on Saturday morning.
‘From what I understand, the issue at Lorn Road is due to inconsiderate parking and I appeal to anyone parking in the area to do the right thing and not cause an obstruction on the public road.’