Bin bag row 'costs £100 a month' in litter clean-up

Rubbish from broken bags has been removed by Haydon Wick Parish Council

A parish council claims it has been forced to spend upwards of £100 each month to clear up litter on a street caught up in a bin bag row.

Some homes on Akers Way in Swindon are unable to have traditional wheelie bins due to steep slopes which lead to their front door.

Instead they use blue bags for household waste, which locals say can be torn open by animals.

Councillor Vinay Manro, chairman of Haydon Wick Parish Council, said: "We are spending a good extra couple of hours a week litter picking this particular stretch of road, which takes away from other duties."

Cllr Vinay Manro says residents' rubbish is spilling out of blue bags

He added: "Those blue bags are left out for two weeks before people are allowed to present them for collection.

"By that time, cats have got to them, foxes have got to them - food has started to degenerate more and it spills out onto the street."

Haydon Wick Parish Council say the problem has led to additional spending of, on average, between £100 and £130 a month.

"This goes toward dedicated litter-picking and clearing of rubbish on Aker's Way.

"This is residents' money which could be spent in other ways," Mr Manro added.

As Swindon Borough Council are responsible for waste collections, he's urged them to do more to tackle the problem.

One potential solution put forward by Haydon Wick Parish Council is that all residents on Akers Way be issued with heavy duty, sealable hessian bags instead of the current blue bags.

But there's been no action from Swindon Borough Council, claims Mr Manro.

Chris Watts, borough council cabinet member for the environment and transport, says he was not aware of the issue until he was contacted by BBC Radio Wiltshire.

He has now arranged a meeting with the parish council.

Chris Watts says he is happy to find a solution for the residents of Akers Way

Mr Watts said: "In November, the issue was raised by a resident and a response went back to suggest the bin bags not be put out until the night before.

"The parish council says it is dealing with someone in the council, but nothing has come to light. Maybe they are dealing with an officer, but what they should have done is sought to escalate the issue.

"We want to talk with the parish council and find out about the bigger picture. I'm happy to find a solution."

On the £100 Haydon Wick Parish Council are spending each month on litter-picking Akers Way, Mr Watts added it was not something he had been made aware of.