'Waste of time': Debate over 'problematic' Southend wheelie bin plans

Southend Council’s proposals could see a move to fortnightly wheelie bin collections as part of a new waste contract beginning next April.

Currently, residents are expected to sort their rubbish into black sacks for general waste and pink sacks for recyclables. There are additional bins for garden waste.

However, the new scheme would see homes given two wheelie bins, one for recycling and one for waste. Flats and those with no space for bins will continue to have sacks collected, however that may require whole streets to be excluded. It has been met with a mixed reaction from residents.

Residents could be expected to store their rubbish in wheelie bins outside their homes. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Councillors have also raised concerns over the collections which could take “16 times longer” and block narrow roads if it switches to wheelie bins.

Meanwhile, residents in narrow streets fear the impact the new system could have on already “packed” roads.

Wendy Turpin, of Westbourne Grove, Westcliff, said: “Traffic is horrendous up here as it is. Having to empty individual wheelie bins will make the lorries even slower.”

“These are terraced houses, so we don't have an alley way to wheel the bins through. I don’t think older people will be able to trail the new wheelie bins through the house.”

Sylvia Farmer fears the bins could make it more difficult for her to walk outside her home. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Sylvia Farmer, 85, also lives on Westbourne Grove in Westcliff. She is battling cancer and suffers with reduced mobility.

She said: “It’s a complete waste of time. Where are we going to put them?

“Having wheelie bins on the pavement will be a problem. I use a walker when I go out and it’s bad enough trying to manoeuvre the narrow pavement at the moment.

“It would absolutely limit how I get out and about. I’d also have to cope with the extra strain of dragging the wheelie bin. I can’t see a lot of elderly people doing it.

“We’ve already got buses coming up our road now. It's busy enough as it is.

“The binmen will have to take the bin, empty it, then figure out whose house it belongs to. While that’s happening, they’ll be holding up traffic even more.

“I don’t think many people around here will be happy with wheelie bins.

“My granddaughter lives in Basildon and says it was so much easier before the council there switched to wheelie bin collections.”

Father Dean Lander has a young child and is concerned about how he will be able to manoeuvre the push chair along the 'narrow' pavement. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Neighbour Dean Lander, is a father of a young baby and is concerned that having wheelie bins standing outside residents’ homes could make it harder to get through with a push chair.

He said: “How am I going to get the buggy past? Because of how narrow the road is, most people have to park with two wheels on the pavement. Having wheelie bins in the way is just going to make it more difficult.

“A lot of these ‘houses’ have been converted into flats. They won’t have enough space to store their wheelie bins.

“It might be more possible for people with bigger houses and bigger gardens, maybe. I don't think they've really thought this through.”

Martin Hockey says having wheelie bins in front gardens could look 'dreadful'. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Martin Hockey, of Leighton Avenue, Leigh, said: “I really don’t want them on these streets with them all as packed as they are. Having bins parked on the pavement is going to make them even narrower.

“There’s also the danger of damaging closely parked cars when the binmen are wheeling them past.

“I think storing two or three wheelie bins in the front garden would just look dreadful.

“I’m dead set against it. The only good I could see is it will stop foxes getting into the rubbish. But they might not be such an issue if the council sent street sweepers around occasionally.

Alex Ferguson already uses a wheelie bin and says it is 'strange' that Southend does not use them, when other nearby councils do. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Alec Ferguson, 72, of Clatterfield Gardens, Westcliff, said: “I think it’s a good idea, because I use them anyway. You can already buy wheelie bins, either privately or from the council.

“I think it would be better. Most local councils near here do it, like in Rochford and Basildon, so it seems strange that we don’t.

“The problem will be where people can store them. For residents up little roads, it’s not good, but most of us are lucky to have enough space around here.

“It will stop foxes getting into the bin bags if they can’t get into them easily. If we’ve got wheelie bins, it’ll keep them out and stop rubbish going everywhere.

“I’m not worried about the bin lorries blocking traffic and causing delays as they already do. This week, we’ve had three lorries come past.

“If you put bags out the night before, the rubbish can end up all over the road because foxes can get into them. If you’ve got rubbish everywhere, that can attract rats and other vermin.”

Pawan Kumar says using wheelie bins would help prevent litter in the street. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Neighbour Pawan Kumar, 40, said: “I think wheelie bins would be alright.

“At the moment, we have to carry all our bags to the pavement, and there’s always the risk of foxes ripping them open when they're left out overnight. If we had wheelie bins, we could put all our bags out the night before without having to worry about the foxes getting in.

“I would prefer a wheelie bin, as the rubbish bags we currently have can cause litter in our street.”