Residents Frustrated by Waste Management and Parking Issues
Residents in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, are experiencing growing frustration due to a combination of overflowing waste bins and parking chaos. The situation has escalated to the point where some bins have not been emptied since May, leading to an infestation of flies and the attraction of wildlife such as foxes and badgers.
The problem is primarily attributed to the difficulty that waste collection crews face when trying to access certain areas. On one particular road, the bin wagon can reach the edge of a cul-de-sac but refuses to enter because of vehicles parked on the corner. Instead of walking into the cul-de-sac to collect the bins, the crews have instructed residents not to wheel them to the main road, citing health and safety concerns.
Faced with this dilemma, many residents have resorted to unconventional methods to dispose of their waste. Some are taking bags of rubbish to the homes of friends and relatives to use their bins, while others are washing their plastic bottles before putting them out to prevent odors. Regular use of fly spray has also become a common practice, though it has not been entirely effective in keeping the pests at bay.
Impact of HMO Conversions
A significant contributing factor to the parking issues is the conversion of properties into Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). These conversions often result in multiple tenants occupying a single property, increasing the number of vehicles in the area and exacerbating the parking problem.
Steve Silkstone, a 67-year-old retired miner who has lived in the area for eight years, has raised concerns about these conversions. He organized a petition against a neighboring property being converted into bed sits, which garnered support from 260 people. Despite his efforts, the issue persists, and he continues to struggle with uncollected waste.
The house next door, which failed to sell for over a year, was eventually bought by an absentee landlord and converted into three double rooms upstairs and a single bedroom downstairs. This change has led to an increase in the number of vehicles parked on the street, making it even more challenging for waste collection crews to access the area.
Resident Experiences
Leanne Cowie, 36, shared her experience of having her plastic bin not emptied since early June. She described the situation as “disgusting,” noting that foxes frequently come into the street and spread the waste around. She has had to take her recycling to her mother’s house, which she finds inconvenient.
Robert Brown, 74, expressed concern about the ongoing conversion of houses into HMOs. He noted that while his family is fortunate to have a bin that faces a different street, others are not so lucky. Jane Board, 70, mentioned that her bin has not been emptied since May and criticized the council for not addressing the issue effectively.
Susan Smith, 78, recalled sending a photo of the parking congestion to the council ten years ago, highlighting the long-standing nature of the problem. She now has to store her recycling in a box every three weeks and transport it to her brother-in-law’s home.
Calls for Action
Hayley Roberts, 52, emphasized that the situation has worsened over time, with more cars and a smaller bin wagon causing additional challenges. She criticized the council for sending letters about parking instead of addressing the root cause of the problem.
Jane Revell, 53, shared a recent experience where a bin was finally collected after waiting for four weeks. She highlighted the frustration of having the bin wagon almost reach the street but failing to collect the waste. Adrian White, 72, described the parking issue as “mind-boggling” and noted the presence of badgers and foxes attracted by the waste.
Council Response
North East Lincolnshire Council has acknowledged the issue and stated that they have written to residents in December regarding the problem of parked vehicles on the corner of Douglas Road and Laurier Street. They are currently considering the installation of enforceable parking restrictions on this corner, although the process will require legal steps in the coming months.
In the meantime, the council has requested that residents avoid parking on the corner of the street on collection days to allow waste collection crews to access the area. While these measures may help alleviate the problem, residents continue to call for more immediate solutions to address the ongoing waste management and parking challenges.
