Street split over arrival of new wheelie bins

Janette Smith said she was unable to move the new bins

Residents of one of the last roads in a borough to be given wheelie bins have been left divided over their introduction.

Janette Smith, 64, said she could not physically move the new bins to put them out on collection day on Beatrice Street in Bootle.

A neighbour, who gave his name as Jimmy, said he thought it was a good idea if it would "prevent seagulls from ripping bin bags and making a mess on the street".

Sefton Council said the response to the bins had been "overwhelmingly positive."

Delivery of the new bins began on 15 August

The wheelie bins have been brought in as part of a scheme to take hundreds of thousands of black bins bags off the streets.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said that while it had spoken to a number of people who welcomed the new service, a number of older residents were concerned about storing the bins and getting them out on the street.

Ms Smith said her home had a small pathway to the door which was now blocked by a large grey bin, with two other wheelie bins stationed over a wall.

"These stupid things are no good...I can't lift them over my garden wall because they're too heavy so I don't know what I'm going to do," she said.

Jimmy, in his 60s, added: "I do prefer the wheelie bins than the old way because on bin days it was just seagulls galore on this street and they'd just take over.

"They are up on the cars, doing their business and screeching really loudly. You'd scare them off but they would fly right back down."

He said he was concerned about using the road being too narrow for the bins.

Jimmy said he would have considered the trial of gull-proof sacks, but didn't know it was an option.

Kathy Gaynor said the bins looked "unsightly", and that she would struggle to move them.

Sefton Council's Harvey said: "The council is pleased that most residents in parts of Derby Ward are happy with the new service and are already seeing improvements in the cleanliness of the area."

He urged anyone concerned about being able to move their bins to contact the council.